2 Corinthians 5:1-10
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. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 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. 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.
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 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.
My nearest & dearest and I often have conversations about the end of this life. He finds it unfathomable that I am looking forward to being out of here and into eternity with Jesus.
The Bible speaks about the whole creation groaning to be made anew and, especially as we grow older, we, as believers, long to be with Jesus and have our mortal bodies replaced by everlasting, incorruptible ones [Romans 8:22].
The world's ethos is: "seeing is believing".. how often have you heard someone say "I'll believe it when I see it"? Indeed, Thomas, one of Jesus' hand picked disciples doubted Jesus' resurrection even when his mates told him that they'd seen Jesus alive.
We know well the story that Jesus appeared later and put Thomas straight. However, He said that "blessed are they who have not seen yet believe" John 20:29
So, even when I'm having a bad day, when my feelings are all out of sorts, I still believe! Therefore, on my very worst day, I can say that I am blessed! Jesus said so!
Most of us during this earthly life will go through some sort of physical pain or discomfort and the longer we live, the more we realise that our bodies are wearing out.
What a wonderful gift it is to know that we have a mark 2 version awaiting us that will be perfect without pain or disability - impervious to ageing.
As this passage says, we have been given a deposit of the promise to come by the Holy Spirit. Indeed as I read the words of scripture, my heart skips a beat with anticipation.
To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
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