2 Corinthians 5:1-5
1 Now 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 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 with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Even the circumstance of prison and the constant threat of death could not silence the hope of God’s message to us through His servant Paul. Paul counts it all for pure joy and writes of things certain to come in due time instead of dwelling on the sufferings. “. . . We know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven.” (The Message) We live as such temporal and restless beings though we were created to be eternal beings. We overload our patient Father’s ears with groaning and longing for our place by His side. “Sometimes we can hardly wait to move (to our heavenly tent)—and so we cry out in frustration.” And in those times of impatience we forget for what purpose we were made—“to be clothed in our heavenly dwelling.” Out of His infinite graciousness, God gave us, His children, His Spirit to remind us that while we dwell here in our makeshift tents on this earth, the earth, with all its death and desperation and depravity, is not our home. Romans 8 proclaims, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Our tender Father does not forget our plight. He hears every plea for eternity. To comfort us, Jesus says, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going” (John 14:1-4).
Hope Hamilton
Prayer:
Jesus, I know in my heart that you are preparing a place for me to dwell with you forever in heaven but sometimes I grow so weary and tired of waiting because of my desperate need of you. Jesus, be the constant flow of joy in my life, so that when I verge on forgetting what has been promised to me, I can count it all joy. Thank you for your Spirit that you have entrusted to me—never leaving nor forsaking me. Make your Spirit so evident in my life. I need so much more of you.
