Read: 2 Corinthians 5:1-8
I am slowly dying. We all are. From the moment we are born, the clock begins to wind down. My body deteriorates. Years of high impact exercise, multiple foot injuries, and a serious spinal condition all contribute to arthritis. I feel more like the old arthritic gazelle run over by a Land Rover than the swift, sure-footed deer in Habakkuk 3:19.
WE GROAN
I identify with the Apostle Paul: “Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling”. Each morning, I take stock of what hurts and how much. Most of the time I can move through life with minimal awareness of discomfort. But some days the pain of injuries is so strong that I can’t ignore the sharp stab or constant ache. Again, like Paul, I really wish I could put on my new heavenly body, just like I can put on new clothes. “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
LONGING TO BE FREE
Everywhere I turn there are reports of terrible tragedies and pain. The Bible warns us of our duration on earth. “There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-4). I cannot escape the impact of living in a sin-filled world. My spirit hurts. I experience distress and suffering that makes me groan with longing for Heaven. It’s not that I have a death wish. I long to be free and experience life fully with God in Heaven.
Do you rejoice with me in His Truth? I am His and sealed with His Spirit. “Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight.”
WHAT IS YET TO COME
What about you? Do you feel strong like the deer in Habakkuk, sure-footed in treacherous places or are you like an old arthritic gazelle run over by a Land Rover eight days ago? Hang on, dear friend. God has promised us fresh eternal bodies in Heaven and given His spirit as a promise. We live by faith, not by sight. One day, like putting on a new set of clothes, these old worn-out bodies will be discarded. We will run through Heaven, dwelling in the presence of our Holy God. The terrible times of the last days will be long gone.
NO MORE CRYING, NO MORE PAIN
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:3-5)