The spirits of departed believers are with the Lord.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 (AMP) then the dust [out of which God made man’s body] will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
Luke 23:46 (NKJV) And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.
These words remind us of what death is — a temporary separation of the spirit from the body. Jesus rose from the dead and those who belong to him will share in His resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:20-21 (NLT) But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.
Alec Motyer says: “Death is not so much something which happens to a Christian as something God works for him. The death of a Christian is precious to God. It is something He has a special regard for.”
Ronald Wallace says: “Death is now an experience in which God no longer is absent, but present to receive the spirit in its separation from the body, in order to clothe it again and keep it for everlasting glory”
Revelation 14:13 (AMP) Then I heard [the distinct words of] a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes, [blessed indeed],” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest and have relief from their labors, for their deeds do follow them.”
Paul teaches that believers will be in Christ’s presence upon their death. 2 Corinthians 5:1 (NLT) For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.
2 Corinthians 5:2 (NLT) We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.
2 Corinthians 5:8 (NLT) Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.
Heaven or hell. Life or death. Jesus or eternal destruction. You have a choice but no second chance once you die.
Choose life today! Ephesians 2:8 (ESV) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God . . .