Will you be present with the Lord when you are absent from your body?

I am showing the verses in two good translated versions of the Bible just to show how the words are interpreted. Another good version is the English Standard Version or New English Standard Version. I personally do not read any that are what I call loosely translated or paraphrased versions.
NKJV is for the New King James Version

2 Corinthians 5:8, New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:8, New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:54, (NKJV)

54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then 

1 Corinthians 15:54,  (NASB)

54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.

2 Corinthians 5:4, (NKJV)

4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

2 Corinthians 5:4, (NASB)

4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.

Romans 10:17, (NKJV)

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17, (NASB)

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Chris

Isaiah 25:8, (NASB)

8 He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken.

(You might ask why several versions. All are the Word of God yet some are written for us to understand the words and concepts in our own language. Remember the Bible was written in Greek, and Hebrew and many of their words and concepts do not translate as easily as we would want to be able to have a very clear understanding. That is why we look at several and having a Greek, Hebrew to English Bible is also very helpful as you learn to study the Word of God.)
My Comments: When my husband found out he was very ill he was happy because he was going to go be with the Lord and he knew for him to be absent from his body meant he would then be with His Lord. One of the things he, like Paul and many others before him, had to do was be obedient to God our Father and keep his body as healthy as he could so he could remain here until the Lord called Him home.
In other words he could not do anything to hasten his departure. When the new believers went to their deaths rejoicing it was not that they hastened their own departure it was that God was calling them home to Him. When God finally called my hubby (or when He calls me) we will know it is Him doing the calling to leave not us hurrying it along.
All who are Called Out have work to do. We did nothing to receive saving grace yet those who are Christ's are known because of their works. We have His work to do with Him to offer salvation to many people so when they depart their bodies they will be present with the Lord for eternity in new bodies. We stay to serve and when we go it will be with joy. Hallelujah! What a glorious day that will be. Our souls yearn to be with Him who gave us freedom like no other freedom on earth.
To accept the righteousness of Jesus Christ who died on the Cross and rose from the dead on the third day is to have Him cover our sins and we become brothers and sisters to the King of heaven and sons and daughters to the Father of us all. Then when our Lord calls us home we are present with Him in heaven.
The work we do after we become His is not for our salvation as we are saved once and for all when we accept His gift of salvation. We do not work for a gift it is freely given. Once we belong to the Heavenly family and are the King of Kings family then we have work to do to help others come to know and receive the free gift God gives us through Jesus' death and resurrection.
Won't you join us as brothers and sisters of the King and sons and daughters of God the Father of all? Won't you come work in the vineyard of the Lord and introduce them to the God of all Creation? Will you help prepare others to be present with the Lord when they leave this body? Christ asks you to be His. God has given you a way to have your sins removed as far as the East is from the West. Accept the righteousness and gift of salvation from Jesus and be reborn.
Abba Father, we praise You and give ourselves to You through Your Son Jesus our redeemer, friend and brother. We are humbled by Your gift of everlasting life and we thank You, Father God, for choosing us from the beginning of time to be Yours. Cover us Father with Your wings and guide us with Your Holy Spirit so we will grow in Your strength, and truth and we will have abundant faith to do all You set for us to do. Keep us from evil and keep us on Your path of righteousness for Your names sake. Thank You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for everything and may we find joy in all things as You have told us to do . In Jesus Christ in union with the Holy spirit we pray. Amen
Rebishka