在主日聚會中，我坐在露意絲身後的長木椅上。當敬拜團開始演奏詩歌《我只能想像》（I Can Only Imagine）時，我舉起雙手讚美上帝，與她那甜美的高音互相應和。聚會後，她告訴了我她所面對的健康問題，於是我們決定在她即將進行的癌症療程期間要一同禱告。

幾個月後在醫院裡，露意絲告訴我，她害怕死亡。我斜靠著她的病床，與她頭挨著頭地靠在一起，輕聲禱告，並低聲哼唱我們的那首歌《我只能想像》。幾天後，露意絲就回天家了，面對面地敬拜耶穌，她有什麼感覺呢？我只能想像。

使徒保羅給當時正面臨死亡的讀者，提供了撫慰人心的保證（哥林多後書5章1節）。我們在世上經歷的苦難，或許會使我們痛苦埋怨，但我們的盼望緊繫在天上的居所，那永遠與耶穌同在的地方（2-4節）。雖然上帝創造我們，是要我們渴望與祂同在的永生（5-6節），但祂的應許也要影響我們現在要如何為祂而活（7-10節）。

在等候耶穌再臨或是祂召我們回天家之際，若我們活出討耶穌喜悅的生活，祂同在的平安將使我們歡欣喜樂。當我們脫離血肉之軀，進入耶穌基督永恆國度的那一刻，我們會經歷些什麼呢？我們只能想像！

I settled into the church pew behind a woman as the worship team began playing “I Can Only Imagine.” Raising my hands, I praised God as the woman’s sweet soprano voice harmonized with mine. After telling me about her health struggles, we decided to pray together during her upcoming cancer treatments.

A few months later, Louise told me she feared dying. Leaning onto her hospital bed, I rested my head next to hers, whispered a prayer, and quietly sang our song. I can only imagine what it was like for Louise when she worshiped Jesus face-to-face just a few days later.

The apostle Paul offered comforting assurance for his readers who were facing death (2 Corinthians 5:1). The suffering experienced on this side of eternity may cause groaning, but our hope remains anchored to our heavenly dwelling—our eternal existence with Jesus (vv. 2–4). Though God designed us to yearn for everlasting life with Him (vv. 5–6), His promises are meant to impact the way we live for Him now (vv. 7–10).

As we live to please Jesus while waiting for Him to return or call us home, we can rejoice in the peace of His constant presence. What will we experience the moment we leave our earthly bodies and join Jesus in eternity? We can only imagine!