For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven. For in this tent we groan, longing to be further clothed with our heavenly habitation if indeed, when we have taken it off, we shall not be found naked. For while we are in this tent we groan and are weighed down, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has prepared us for this very thing is God who has given us the Spirit as the first installment. So we are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. (2 Corinthians 5:1-10 New American Bible translation)
We walk by faith not by sight! So many people in this world wonder why we, the faithful, choose to believe in something we cannot see. This scripture verse answers that question simply yet profoundly. Full of symbolism and imagery that really drives the point home – our bodies pass away but our souls are eternal. Tent v. Building from God: Body v. Soul. The comparison made between tent and building helps us to realize the true weakness of our bodies and the unflinching strength of our souls. So what should we choose to nurture?
Scripture tells us that in this tent we groan ‘longing” to be further clothed… for me that means while on this earth, we are constantly in conflict with being in this world but not of this world. We groan and are weighed down…. we are restless, we are constantly searching for something more. For some of us that can mean more possessions, for some of us that can mean more relationships, for others it can mean more spiritual nourishment. Whatever the case may be, we soon begin to realize that nothing can give us the satisfaction we seek except our relationship with GOD! The good news is that He doesn’t leave us alone – scripture tells us that God has prepared us for the struggles of this life by giving us the Holy Spirit as the first installment – meaning baptism. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit we can be courageous, we can aspire to please Him even if it means being counter-cultural. We can endure the culture and persevere in faith knowing that right relationship with God is what brings us true happiness and peace and isn’t that what we all seek?
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