Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Friday, December 19, 2 Corinthians 5:8

Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

He now re-emphasizes the "good courage" phrase because we are going into another aspect of our walk with the Lord. But first we can memorize this passage, first repeating our desire to "rather be away from the body", so we can be "at home with the Lord."

While those in the world fear that mankind is going to destroy itself one day, we know that it won't happen (though that would have been the inevitable result of our sinfulness and lust for power), by what Jesus said: "And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved." (Matthew 24:22)

This in itself points out that at one time Jesus knew that men would have the capability to completely annihilate themselves, but God, for the sake of the elect, cut them short. For we know that it will be God, not mankind, who will end this wicked world system by implementing His wrath and protecting His elect.

And that wrath will occur in its fulness during the "time of Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30), which is the Great Tribulation. And it will occur in pulses, with seals, trumpets, and bowls of wrath. And the great thing about this as well, is that, during this period the cry will continue to go out, calling the people to repent and believe.

If you read Revelation closely, you will see the national repentance of the nation Israel occur, where the blinders are removed and they look at the One they had pierced and repent (Zechariah 12:10). And after one final period of great suffering, they will finally return to the Land in its fulness, and all nations will come to it (Isaiah 2). And in them, with their Messiah King on the throne of David, all nations will be blessed.

During this time we will see instances where multitudes turn to the Messiah and reject the Beast, which results in the worldwide slaughter of the Tribulation saints by the Antichrist. And many of those will be in white robes under the altar of God in Heaven, waiting patiently for the judgment to begin against those who slew them. (Revelation 6,7)

There will even be a time when three angels will fly throughout the earth to warn the world and give one last opportunity to turn to the Gospel of Christ. (Rev. 14)

But finally, there will come the time where no one repents of their sins and cries to the Lord for salvation. Instead, they curse Him for what He is doing (Revelation 16).

We know all this, and so we desire to escape the wrath of God and be forever with Him. Though we may go through great suffering on this earth because of our testimony of Jesus, nothing will compare to the wrath of God thrown upon the earth in that day. We find that "the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:18) And with this knowledge of what is to come, we groan, desiring that wonderful time when He will bring us to the place we were always meant to be:

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Philippians 3:20-21) So:

Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

I know I would. How about you?

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

*ESV used unless noted*

Memory Helps:

YES,
WE ARE of good courage, and
WE WOULD rather be
AWAY FROM the body
AND AT HOME with the Lord."

A couple more "We phrases": WE ARE/WE WOULD , coupled with the "AWAY FROM"/ AND AT HOME"

I found remembering AWW for "and we would" helped me get that part of the verse right.

For you singers, I sing this to the tune "Yes, we have no bananas, we have no bananas today"

YES, we ARE of, good COUR age; and
WE would, rath ER be, a WAY;
FROM, the BOD y; and AT home,
WI-TH the LO---RD.

If I wanted to link this to the verse numbers, I keep the two pillars (2 Corinthians) and a large 5-fingered hand (Chapter 5), and add the "memory character" I use for verses 8, which is my friend "Vi" in the V8". I always picture her driving a fancy car with a V8 engine in it to reinforce the number 8. We are all loaded in her V8 and the large Hand of God is carrying us to be "at home with the Lord," which goes between the 2 Corinthian pillars into heaven. That way we link the verse to 2 Corinthians 5:8.