III. PREFERRED COMPANY

Paul preferred heaven and Christ's company to life on earth. We are . . .  willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord, 8.

1. There is none more dear to the believer than Christ. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better, Philippians 1:23. Paul lived in the experience of constant revival, but heaven is better.

2. Death is us being absent from the body. The body is not us. It is only our earthly tabernacle.

3. Upon death we are immediately present with the Lord. There is no such thing as soul sleep or purgatory.