What does it mean to be absent from the body and present with the Lord?

In 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, the Apostle Paul articulates the profound hope Christians have regarding death. To be absent from the body is to be freed from our earthly limitations and the struggles of sinful flesh. When believers die, they go directly into the presence of Christ, signifying a state of ultimate freedom and communion with God. This transition illustrates the believer's hope that, despite present struggles, there is a glorious future awaiting them—the new Jerusalem. The security in this truth arises from the confidence that our lives are hidden in Christ, who ensures our eternal fellowship with Him. Therefore, this truth reassures believers that their hope is not in this present life but in the eternal life promised through Christ's finished work.