A BETTER BODY: Our current body is like a leaky tent; our resurrection body is like a solid building.
- 2 Corinthians 5:1-2, 4, 8.
- Verse 1 compares our earthly body to a tent. If you’ve been camping you know that most tents can be leaky, drafty, decidedly rough. But we have a second body to look forward to, if you want to put it that way. That “second body” is our resurrection body. Just as Jesus had a resurrection body that was clearly different from his original earthly body, so too will we. We know Jesus’ resurrection body was different because, just to cite one example, of the way He could appear in a room with locked doors.
- As we look at the world to come and the eternity that Christ has prepared for us, we too will have a resurrected body. Although we don’t know all the specifics, we can presume that it will be a significant upgrade over the one we now have.
- Without going too deep into it, it’s important here to understand the larger picture of our eternity. Our eternity is not all in heaven, although that is our first stop after our death. Rather, Revelation 21 and 22 envision a new heaven, new earth, and New Jerusalem. We will rule with Christ in those. It’s a vision of work, creativity, expansion, responsibility, and purpose. And far more interesting and compelling than strumming harps on a bunch of white clouds.
- Compared to that earthly tent, our resurrection body will be like a solid building, far better in every aspect.
- Verse 2 poses a challenging question.
- It says that among our groaning here on earth we long for that resurrection body. But do we? I don’t think most American Christians do. We don’t generally have a vision beyond this life. We’re just obsessed with the here and now.
- In fact, beyond the idea of actually longing for it I’m not sure if most American Christians even think about it. All we think about eternity is by way of concession. Hold onto this world as long as you can and then when you can’t anymore at least you have heaven to look forward to.
- Verse 4 speaks to the groaning that we do while we’re in this life. Our present body does have significant problems associated with it. We “groan and are burdened.”
- Again, though, Paul gives us more credit than American Christians deserve. He states part of our groaning is because we long for that second body (“the heavenly dwelling”). I’m not sure we do, though.
- Verse 8 flatly states that we would prefer to be with Him than here. With the exception of those who are death’s door, that’s just not true of most of us today.
- So when you add all this up, we have to ask the obvious question: why are we completely disinterested in something that Paul paints with such impressive words?
OUR FUTURE: Our mortal existence will be swallowed up in full life.
- 2 Corinthians 5:4-5.
- We don’t have a clear picture of who we are or where we’re going. Let’s see if we can get a clearer picture from Paul.
- The end of verse 4 tells us something important: “so that what is mortal may be swallowed up in life.” What does that mean?
- The “mortal” aspect of it is obviously a commentary on our current life and body. But the rest of the phrase leaves us wondering.
- What does it mean that it will be “swallowed up by life”? The word “life” there means the full, glorious, abundant life that Jesus offers us. This is life overflowing, life at its best. This is life without sin holding us back. This is life in our second body. This is life fully ably and eager to serve Christ.
- Verse 5 continues by telling us that: “Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose . . .”
- This is a substantial statement. It’s is the direct answer to the existential question “For what purpose did God make us?” The questions don’t get a whole lot bigger than that. What’s the answer this passage gives us?
- The given answer is that we have been that our mortal beings may be swallowed up in life. Even though we are sinful and corrupted now, even though we are incapable of earning all that God desires to bring into our lives, nonetheless God has opened up a breathtaking door of opportunity. That opportunity is for us to have our mortal being swallowed up in true, deep, abiding, overflowing, incredible life. God has made us to participate in this life.
- It’s not an afterthought or a consolation prize. It’s the very thing God had in mind when He created us.
- This answers some questions for us.
- Why are so many discontented when they seem to have everything they could want? Maybe it’s because they’re lacking the very thing that they were created to be.
- Why does this world seem so lost? Maybe it’s because they’re trying everything else to fill their lives instead of what God created them for.
- In your life, why do you feel empty inside oftentimes? Maybe it’s because you’re living for less than what God envisions for you.
THE DOWN PAYMENT: The Holy Spirit’s presence within us is a promise of what God intends to do within us.
- 2 Corinthians 5:5-7.
- It’s important to understand that God wants us to participate in the deep, overflowing life that He offers. It’s also important to understand that our journey in that direction does not wait until after our death.
- Verse 5 continues by telling us that the Holy Spirit has been given to us for a specific reason. Now, there are several reasons that we have been given the Holy Spirit, but let’s just focus on the one that Paul mentions here. He tells us that the Spirit is within us as a guarantee, a promise of what is to come.
- It’s important to note Who is within us. It is the Holy Spirit. God is making us into being who will be rid of the sin that besets us now. His presence within us is an indication of the type of beings that God is making us into. Beings who are right with Him. Beings in whom the Holy Spirit could naturally reside.
- If you want to experience this transformation, this is exciting news. It’s an indication of what God is going to do in you.
- Verse 6 starts with the word “Therefore” and that’s always important to note. What’s the connection between the two verses?
- Well, verse 6 tells us that we can be confident. How can we be confident? Because verse 5 just told us that the Holy Spirit has been given to us as a guarantee of what is to come. But what about when we get discouraged with our present struggles and sinfulness? That’s what the rest of verse 6 addresses. We know that as long as we are in our present body we are not yet with the Lord. We know that the work hasn’t been finished yet. We know that the process is ongoing. It’s easy to wonder if God has given up on us or abandoned us. He hasn’t. We have a guarantee in the Holy Spirit. So stay confident.
- This is why verse 7 reminds us that we live by faith and not sight. We are still in the “not yet” stage. So faith is essential.
OUR ALL-THE-TIME LIFE GOAL: To please God.
- 2 Corinthians 5:9.
- Now we come to the conclusion of Paul’s argument. Having spoken of all these things, he shares our goal. It’s simple, whether it’s in this life or the next: to please God.
- Much of what we have talked about up to this point concerned what God is doing for us. This concerns where our focus needs to be: pleasing God.
- Few pursue this. Most of us are consumed with pleasing ourselves. After all, we deserve to be happy, don’t we? Or we dwell on pleasing others. We want to be liked.
- We need to ask ourselves this question: do we want to please God?
