Tears and Tents
Opening Prayer
Spirit of God, help me to be aware of Your presence and honor You in all I think, say and do.
Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-10
[1] For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. [2] Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, [3] because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. [4] For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. [5] Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. [6] Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. [7] For we live by faith, not by sight. [8] We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. [9] So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What is the greatest reality about our earthly bodies?When our children were small our vacations were spent camping. It was as much as we could afford on the stipend I was receiving as a minister. One stormy August night I spent a long time clinging onto the inside frame lest the whole tent be blown off the cliff, hoping that I would not disappear into the night with it if my weight was insufficient. I lived to survive the adventure, although we lost any enthusiasm for camping in Cornwall afterwards. Paul, the tentmaker, likens this body to such insubstantial shelters, but he looks forward to a building to come (1). The resurrection body will not get blown away by our current afflictions, like its mortal predecessor, but will bear the eternal weight of glory. It might not be immediately obvious, but inside we are being fitted for eternity. Indeed, this new life is already being renewed within us (4:16), and we have a guarantee that promises its fulfillment: the gift of the Spirit (5). So, don’t lose heart, but aim in everything to please God (9).
Apply
Let the light of eternity shine through everything you do, fixing your attention on your “eternal house in heaven” (1).
Closing prayer
Lord, when this world takes my whole attention, help me to remember that I am made for eternity.
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