You’ve seen the bumper stickers: “Beam me up, Jesus”; “This vehicle will be unmanned in case of rapture”. As you listen to some of these folks, however, it seems that their longing to spring this mortal coil is driven primarily to get away from the world as we know it. Watching the evening news – replete with death and destruction – you might get an urge to exit stage upward, too.

When I read the Bible, though, it seems like one shouldn’t be in as much of a hurry to leave this planet as they are to be with Jesus. Consider the words of the Apostle Paul:

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.” (Philippians 1:21-23) Notice that he wasn’t saying, “Get me off of this God-forsaken rock. The sooner the better!” He had difficulty choosing between his desire to be with Christ and his desire to minister on Earth. Even so, he considered being with Christ far better.

In John’s gospel, we read that Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” He did not go to merely prepare an exit, but to prepare a place to receive us to Himself, that we might ever be with Him.

A dear man in my congregation is physically battling with cancer. You would never know it from the sweetness of his spirit. He publishes the church prayer list, and I get the impression that he has developed a life of prayer himself. Imagine maintaining a long-distance relationship through letters, and perhaps an occasional telephone call. After years of developing a deep relationship through correspondence, you finally have an opportunity to travel to meet the person face-to-face. Would you be excited? Excited to go on a trip, or excited to be with the one that you love?

If we are more anxious to leave this life than we are to be with the Lord, perhaps it is time that we should evaluate our spiritual correspondence with God. How’s your prayer life lately?

For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. (2 Cor. 5:4)