In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to get caught up in the here and now. We focus on our immediate concerns, our earthly troubles, and the challenges that face us day to day. But what if we took a moment to lift our eyes and look beyond the horizon of this present world? What if we allowed ourselves to be captivated by a promise so magnificent, so transformative, that it has the power to change how we view every aspect of our lives?
This promise is the Christian's ultimate homecoming – the resurrection and our eternal dwelling with God. It's a promise that's woven throughout Scripture, from the earliest patriarchs to the teachings of Jesus Himself. It's a hope that's not built on wishful thinking or mere optimism, but on the unshakeable word of God and the historical reality of Christ's own resurrection.
Consider the words of the apostle Paul: "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Corinthians 5:1). This isn't a vague "maybe" or a tentative "hopefully." It's a confident declaration – we know. This assurance is rooted in the character of God Himself, who has never failed to keep a promise throughout all of eternity.
This promise of resurrection isn't a new concept. It echoes through the ages, from Job's bold proclamation, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God" (Job 19:25-27), to Abraham's faith as he "waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10). It's a hope that has sustained believers through the darkest of times and the most challenging of circumstances.
But this promise isn't just about a disembodied afterlife. It's about a physical resurrection, a glorified body that will be fit for eternity. As C.S. Lewis so powerfully put it, "There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal." Every person we encounter is an eternal being, destined for either "immortal horrors or everlasting splendors."
This future reality should shape how we view ourselves and others. It should infuse our present struggles with meaning and purpose. As Paul reminds us, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17). Every trial, every hardship, every moment of suffering is being used by God to prepare us for an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all.
Yet, even as we hold fast to this promise, we find ourselves in a tension. We're still in these earthly bodies, subject to weakness, pain, and decay. Paul describes this as a groaning – not a groan of despair, but one of anticipation. It's like a child on Christmas Eve, barely able to contain their excitement for what's to come. This groaning isn't limited to believers; the whole of creation is described as being in "labor pains," eagerly awaiting the day when God's children will be fully revealed and all things will be made new.
In the midst of this tension, how do we live? Paul gives us three sources of confidence:
1. The Holy Spirit as our guarantee. The presence of the Spirit in our lives is like a down payment, a foretaste of the full inheritance that awaits us. He brings us righteousness, peace, and joy – the very essence of God's kingdom – even in the midst of our current circumstances.
2. Faith as a gift. We don't have to muster up faith through our own efforts. It's a gift from God, sustaining us when we can't see the way forward. We walk by faith, not by sight, trusting in God's promises even when our current reality seems to contradict them.
3. Heaven as our goal. Our ultimate destination isn't just a place, but a Person. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. This hope of being forever united with Christ, the lover of our souls, gives purpose and direction to our earthly journey.
As we reflect on these truths, we're invited to lift our gaze from the temporary to the eternal. To see our current struggles in light of the glory that awaits us. To view every person we encounter as an eternal being of immeasurable worth. To live with the joyful anticipation of our ultimate homecoming.
This doesn't mean we ignore the realities of our present world or disengage from its challenges. Rather, it gives us a framework for engaging with this world in a way that's infused with hope, purpose, and eternal perspective. We can face trials with courage, knowing they're producing in us an eternal weight of glory. We can love others sacrificially, recognizing their infinite value as image-bearers of God destined for eternity. We can work for justice and healing in this world, knowing that our labor is not in vain and that one day, all things will be made new.
So today, wherever you find yourself, whatever challenges you're facing, take a moment to remember the promise of your heavenly home. Let it fill you with hope, strengthen your faith, and renew your perspective. Live as one who knows that the best is yet to come, that your true home awaits, and that one day, you will see your Redeemer face to face. In light of this glorious future, how might you live differently today?
This promise is the Christian's ultimate homecoming – the resurrection and our eternal dwelling with God. It's a promise that's woven throughout Scripture, from the earliest patriarchs to the teachings of Jesus Himself. It's a hope that's not built on wishful thinking or mere optimism, but on the unshakeable word of God and the historical reality of Christ's own resurrection.
Consider the words of the apostle Paul: "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Corinthians 5:1). This isn't a vague "maybe" or a tentative "hopefully." It's a confident declaration – we know. This assurance is rooted in the character of God Himself, who has never failed to keep a promise throughout all of eternity.
This promise of resurrection isn't a new concept. It echoes through the ages, from Job's bold proclamation, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God" (Job 19:25-27), to Abraham's faith as he "waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10). It's a hope that has sustained believers through the darkest of times and the most challenging of circumstances.
But this promise isn't just about a disembodied afterlife. It's about a physical resurrection, a glorified body that will be fit for eternity. As C.S. Lewis so powerfully put it, "There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal." Every person we encounter is an eternal being, destined for either "immortal horrors or everlasting splendors."
This future reality should shape how we view ourselves and others. It should infuse our present struggles with meaning and purpose. As Paul reminds us, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17). Every trial, every hardship, every moment of suffering is being used by God to prepare us for an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all.
Yet, even as we hold fast to this promise, we find ourselves in a tension. We're still in these earthly bodies, subject to weakness, pain, and decay. Paul describes this as a groaning – not a groan of despair, but one of anticipation. It's like a child on Christmas Eve, barely able to contain their excitement for what's to come. This groaning isn't limited to believers; the whole of creation is described as being in "labor pains," eagerly awaiting the day when God's children will be fully revealed and all things will be made new.
In the midst of this tension, how do we live? Paul gives us three sources of confidence:
1. The Holy Spirit as our guarantee. The presence of the Spirit in our lives is like a down payment, a foretaste of the full inheritance that awaits us. He brings us righteousness, peace, and joy – the very essence of God's kingdom – even in the midst of our current circumstances.
2. Faith as a gift. We don't have to muster up faith through our own efforts. It's a gift from God, sustaining us when we can't see the way forward. We walk by faith, not by sight, trusting in God's promises even when our current reality seems to contradict them.
3. Heaven as our goal. Our ultimate destination isn't just a place, but a Person. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. This hope of being forever united with Christ, the lover of our souls, gives purpose and direction to our earthly journey.
As we reflect on these truths, we're invited to lift our gaze from the temporary to the eternal. To see our current struggles in light of the glory that awaits us. To view every person we encounter as an eternal being of immeasurable worth. To live with the joyful anticipation of our ultimate homecoming.
This doesn't mean we ignore the realities of our present world or disengage from its challenges. Rather, it gives us a framework for engaging with this world in a way that's infused with hope, purpose, and eternal perspective. We can face trials with courage, knowing they're producing in us an eternal weight of glory. We can love others sacrificially, recognizing their infinite value as image-bearers of God destined for eternity. We can work for justice and healing in this world, knowing that our labor is not in vain and that one day, all things will be made new.
So today, wherever you find yourself, whatever challenges you're facing, take a moment to remember the promise of your heavenly home. Let it fill you with hope, strengthen your faith, and renew your perspective. Live as one who knows that the best is yet to come, that your true home awaits, and that one day, you will see your Redeemer face to face. In light of this glorious future, how might you live differently today?
Pastor Phil Morgan
Posted in 2 Corinthians: Onward We Stumble
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