Read: 2 Cor 4.7-5.10
Verses chosen for reflection:
2 Corinthians 5:5-10
5 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always of good courage. 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 are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Reflect:
In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul's message to the church in Corinth was a strong reminder that while we are on earth, our "home" is temporal. Our home, meaning our very physical body is decaying by the minute, and will one day be destroyed. Yes, physical death will come to everyone.
Even so, Paul said that while our body goes through suffering and death, our aim must remain to please the Lord. For the time will come when we come before the judgement seat of God and will receive what is due for what we have done to the body. If we have been found faithful (not just a simple matter of how much we have done but whether we have done them right and with godly motives), we will be at home with the Lord. That will be our eternal resting place in the sanctuary not made by human hands.
So Paul was saying that while we are on earth, no matter what we are going through, the Gospel is the focus of all believers. We should live life as if we have died in the flesh, but very much alive in the Spirit. Hence, no matter what physical condition, persecution or troubles we find ourselves in, we can be of good courage to live a Gospel centred life. For what is to come will be worth it. At the same time, Paul was not saying that our temporal body is not important. In fact, Paul warned that we are not to abuse it, neglect it or do anything ungodly with it. Instead, our body is given to us, to be used as an instrument to be enjoyed honourably, to serve and glorify God.
Relate
It is never "easy" to live a Gospel centred life with a decaying body. However, by the grace and power of God, we are able to do so. For Paul was not asking us to live in this way by our own resources or strength; but by the Spirit. To live by the Spirit, we must first grow in our relationship with God.
We cannot have the courage or power to live a Gospel centred life if we do not seek to cultivate our relationship with God. For we will not know who God is in a intimate way. We will not know much of His word which is life. We will not be able to discern how He wants us to work with Him. We will not even be aware of His power to do the right things.
So as much as we groan in our temporal bodies, as much as we complain why the Lord is not coming as yet, as much as we wonder why we are going through such a defeated life despite being in Christ; we might be the greatest obstacle of our own life in Christ.
For if we do not have the faith and trust to build our relationship with God; how can we then be filled with the Spirit? If we do not yield to the new life in us; how can we suffer and yet seek to please God? How can we be persecuted and yet seek to glorify His Name? How can we stumble and yet find the faith to repent and be back on our feet?
We cannot because we have not been faithful with the resources that God has blessed us with. The resources of His word and His community of saints. For if we can be faithful and take courage to use these two powerful resources to build our life in Christ; God's promise is that we will have no lack.
We will have no lack in living out the Gospel centred life. We can suffer. We can be persecuted. We can be beaten even to the verge of destruction. But we will still aim to please God. For our life is now not our own. Our life is bought with the price. And our life looks forward to the day where we will dwell in the very sanctuary of the living God. So take courage my friends, and live that life that God has meant it to be!
Rest
There is One Gospel by CityAlight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmBcTrDu4O4
Jason
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