2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 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. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
In this passage, Paul uses the metaphor of a tent to illustrate the temporary nature of our earthly bodies. Just as we might spend a night or two in a tent, so are our physical bodies our temporary dwelling places. Regardless of our lifespan – whether it’s 80, 90, or even 100 years – we eventually die and leave our earthly bodies behind. As Ecclesiastes 12:7 states, “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” Our bodies, formed from dust, return to dust, while our spirits, given to us by God at the moment of our conception, return to Him.
But though there is a separation of our earthly bodies from our spirits at death, this does not imply that we will spend eternity without a body. As 1 Corinthians 15:40 explains, just as there are earthly bodies, there are heavenly bodies as well. Scripture teaches us that when Jesus returns, He will resurrect our earthly bodies and transform them into heavenly bodies (see 1 Corinthians 15:42-44). The newly transformed bodies we will receive at our resurrection will never again experience sickness, aging, or death. Revelation 21:4 assures us, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” In our new bodies, we will be free of any pain or sorrow.
Like many of us, Paul longed for this glorious transformation. “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven.” He was weary not only of the physical weaknesses of his earthly body but also of his spiritual failures. Therefore, he yearned for complete redemption and to be at home with Christ forever.
Until the day would come, Paul had to live by faith, trusting in God’s promises. As he said, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Paul’s faith in God sustained him through many trials and uncertainties and kept him moving forward, even when the path ahead seemed unclear.
As we bring our study to a close, a line from the hymn ‘It is Well With My Soul’ by Horatio G. Spafford comes to my mind. Spafford wrote this hymn after his four daughters tragically died in a shipwreck. Despite the great loss, Spafford’s hymn reflects his deep trust in God. The final stanza goes, “And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, even so, it is well with my soul.” Like the Apostle Paul and many of us, Spafford longed for the day when his faith would become a reality. “Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight.” Let that day be today. But until that day, I will continue to say, ‘It is well with my soul.'”
Heavenly Father, You understand the challenges we face in this world. Amidst the chaos around us and the trials in our lives, we yearn for the day when Your Son will return to take us home to heaven. But until that day arrives, please strengthen our faith. Help us to remain faithful each day as we continue to walk by faith. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
God bless you, brethren.
(Note: Unless specified otherwise, all Scripture references are from the New King James Version.)
"Seeds of Faith" 