Grace and Peace on a sunshine filled Tuesday. Great to be with you in the Workshop!
This week we’re continuing our New Normal series with a focus on “eternity”. It seems like an appropriate choice since next Monday is Memorial Day.
The text we’re using is II Corinthians 5:1-9. In these verses Paul celebrates how when we leave this world we are “swallowed up by life”.
On Tuesdays we look at the structure of the Scripture. We get a sense of the logic of the verses. As the writer brings forward the message, how does he present his vision?
Here’s how I experience this passage:
The Apostle starts with a strong and guiding statement: “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
This opening contrasts “tent”, which is temporary housing, with “building” which is a permanent residence. From his viewpoint the life we know in this world is transitory. What is to come is our forever home. He describes it like this: our spiritual bodies will be perfect, “not made with hands” and eternal “in the heavens”. His vision is of a glory awaiting.
Since he has faith in this future, he says while we’re here we “groan”. He uses the word twice, in verse 2 and 4. “ 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling— 3 if indeed, when we have taken it off[a] we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”
“Groaning” is one aspect of our current condition. It results from the dynamic tension between our human limitations, frailties, and struggles and the promised completeness and wholeness, freedom and fullness that is to come.
He then makes a statement that brings great assurance. The Apostle proclaims this is all of God’s planning and purpose. “5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God.”
He also asserts that God would be continually encouraging us in this faith. God “has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.”
Paul then moves on from “groaning” into a second aspect of our current condition, “confidence”.
Again, he uses this word twice, in verses 6 and 8. “6 So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
It’s not simply that we feel the “burden” of our human limitations. We also are lifted by the “blessing” ahead. That vision of life with God becomes a guiding light, as we “walk by faith, not by sight”.
The Apostle closes in a way he does with so many of his teachings. He redirects his vision of the future into action in the present. “9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” Whether we’re in heaven with God (at home) or in this world (away), in either dimension of our lives (human or heavenly) the “aim” is the same – to live pleasing to God. We are to bring a bit of heaven into our world today as we live in serving love and reconciling faithfulness with those around us. We are to live “Eternity Now”.
This is a beautiful text that proclaims hope and at the same time provides direction.
As you look at the logic – what do you see? How does the vision of the Apostle “unfold” for you? As always – have your notebook handy!
Today is “text”. Tomorrow is “context”. I look forward to being with you then!
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for beautiful visions of faith that bring comfort to our hearts and reassurance to our souls. Thank you that this heavenly vision calls us to worldly action as we would live by faith, not by sight and aim to please God . Let your Spirit embrace us with this peace and strengthen us in this purpose. This we pray in the name of the One who opened the way, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.