50 Days of Wisdom

Paul faced death confidently not only because he knew that the next body would be the best, the next life would be a perfect one, and the next existence would fulfill God's purpose for his life. But Paul also faced death confidently because the next dwelling was with the Lord. And here we come to the pinnacle of heavenly anticipation: a new body, that's one thing; perfection, that's another thing; fulfillment, that's another thing. But beyond all of those, here is the greatest and final reality: Paul wants to be with the Lord. You say, "Well, doesn't he love the people here?" Yeah, but he loves the Lord more, and really, it's that simple. Who do you love the most? Always of good courage, he faces his funeral with complete confidence and cheerfulness. Literally, it means to be of good cheer, to be happy. His attitude is not the result of an emotional high; it's a settled confidence. And, frankly, to despair about death is un-Christian. Life is just a race to finish. It's just a battle to win. It's just a stewardship to honor. And when the race is done, and the battle is over, and the stewardship is discharged, then the victory, then the triumph. There's no reason to clutch this life, to try to hold on as long as possible. The only reason to stay here is service, and when service is done, we should be as eager as Paul to leave to be with the Lord. Listen, there's no reason to sorrow when a beloved Christian dies—to have some morbid feeling of loss. Oh, there's a natural feeling of loss, of course, but it should never descend to anything morbid, because when a believer goes into the presence of the Lord, that's the fulfillment of everything. But until then, there is a sense, obviously, in which we are separated from God, and we long for that separation to end. It's a heavenly homesickness. It's the longing, and the passion, and the desire to be with God. Heaven is described in Revelation 21, and in verse 3, it says three times that "God will be among them." Verse 23 says the same thing: "And the Lamb will be there, and God will be there." In chapter 22, verse 3, "and God will be there, and the Lamb will be there." Heaven is where we have intimate fellowship, without separation, in the presence of God and the Lamb. At this point he adds, in verse 7, "We walk by faith, not by sight." That explains how we can live and serve an invisible God, how we can hope for an invisible place, a place we can't even see. We do it by faith. It's not a vague superstition. We believe, and we live by that belief. It's not a belief in nothing; it's a belief in the Word of God that tells us all of this. We believe in the Word of God, which tells us about heaven. We believe in the Word of God, which tells us about a resurrection and a resurrection body. So, we live by faith—faith in the Word of God. We believe in what we don't see. I can't see heaven; none of us can see heaven. We walk by faith—faith in the fact that the Word of God promises heaven, tells us about heaven, and tells us how to get there, and that the Word of God is true, and we bank our eternal destiny on that truth. Paul is saying that heaven's a much better place. The Word of God says so, and we believe it. And because it's a better place, we'd rather be there. And what makes it a better place? It's at home with the Lord. Well, you're dying, and so am I; the question is, are you facing that reality with confidence and anticipation? Psalm 115:16 says, "The death of the saints is precious to the Lord"—and if it's precious to Him, it ought to be precious to us. The whole issue is being where He is. Do you love Him enough to be homesick? To desire to be where He is? Do you long for a new body, perfection, fulfillment, and communion without interruption in the presence of God and Christ? Paul did, and so should every believer. Repent and believe! GTY.org (47-32) - Facing Death Confidently, Part 2

Today's Wisdom

Day: 1056

October 12, 2026

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Grace and peace,

My name is Mark Paul from Wauchula, Florida, and like the Apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 1:14, "I know that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent." Consequently, my goal is to leave a legacy that will continue to advance the kingdom of God long after I have departed. In other words, bear fruit for eternity. And by simply reading and sharing my free eBooks, you too become contributors to the advancement of His kingdom. Thank you for partaking in this endeavor, and I look forward to greeting you on heaven's shore.

The Truth in Love,

Mark Paul - Servant of God

Now grant, O Lord, that when the souls who read these books cast their eyes upon these lines, their minds may be illuminated and their consciences convinced and awakened, that they may see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and be converted so that You may heal them. Amen!