Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 5; Psalm 96

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. – 2 Corinthians 5:1

Paul goes from the analogy of jars of clay in chapter four to earthly tents in chapter five. These analogies help us to understand both our earthly existence and our heavenly reward. When we turn to the Lord, the veil is removed and the Spirit of the Lord begins to transform us into the glorious image of Christ. As we become more and more like Jesus, a light shines in our hearts giving God the glory for the transformation taking place. When life gets hard, we become a living testimony to the difference God can make in our lives. Our story shines a light that draws others towards the Lord.

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produced for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Paul is once again redirecting our gaze from our earthly experiences to God’s eternal plan. He describes even our physical bodies as earthly tents that will be taken down and replaced by a house in heaven — an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. When we grow weary of our present situation, God’s Spirit within us reminds us that He is preparing us for our forever home with Him.

We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. – 2 Corinthians 5:2-3

It’s easy for us to get discouraged by our present circumstances and long for our heavenly home. As our bodies age, we begin to look forward to the healing that takes place when we receive our new bodies. But in the meantime, we must make our goal in life to please the Lord in everything we say and do. We must let our light shine and never give up, daily being renewed by the Spirit of the Lord.

For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body. – 2 Corinthians 5:10

I have to be careful here to not go back to living a résumé lifestyle where I attempt to earn my new heavenly body through good works. No, I died to my old self — the one that tried to exchange my unrighteousness for a new self-righteousness. It was a worthless pursuit. Christ died so that I could receive a new life in which I stop living for myself and daily let Christ’s love control me.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

What a wonderful gift from God! We are no longer slaves to our sin nature but the Holy Spirit is making us new. And this transformation is not just for my own benefit, although it is a blessing to live in this freedom. No, God has given those of us who have been made new the task of reconciling others to Him. We have a message of reconciliation to share with the world.

So we are God’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. – 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NLT)

Let’s put this all together. God has made a new covenant with us. When difficulties come, I can know with confidence that I am never alone. When I chose as a child to believe in Him, I walked away from my old self and allowed a new light to live within me, bringing glory to the Creator Himself. I now live for him. Everything I do and everything I say today is for Him, so that I can reflect His glory for the world to see. Because I understand this fearful responsibility to the Lord (5:11), I will work hard to persuade others. Jesus died so that I may receive this new life, therefore I will no longer live for myself. I will live for Christ — the One who died and was raised for me (5:14-15).

We are children of the new covenant.
We are fragile clay jars that contain a great treasure.
We have this light shining in our hearts.
We are a new creation.
God’s Spirit is daily transforming us.
We are God’s ambassadors.
He is making His appeal through us.
So we focus on the light when things get difficult.
We are pressed, but not crushed.
We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.
We are NEVER abandoned by God.
We may get knocked down by life’s circumstances, but we are not destroyed.
These troubles are temporary.
Therefore, we never give up.