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. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5: 1-8, NKJV.
Gracious God, here we are again, looking to You, for life here, and the hope of eternal life, in the hereafter. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray and give and give You thanks for this blessed hope! Amen.
Our Scripture for today, has been the topic of many theological debates. Today we are going to keep it simple, and allow the Holy Spirit to be our Teacher, and “lead us into all truth” (John 16: 13). One statement of great interest that just stares us in the face is, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” This tells me, that whatever we study here, has to be accepted “by faith.”
Just what is the apostle talking about when he uses the terms: “earthly house,” “tent,” “building,” “habitation?” I sought the help of the Holy Spirit in answering this question (as I do in answering all my questions). The apostle here, is obviously speaking about our bodies. Evidence of this is clearly seen by his statement, “knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.” Emphasis provided.
I am sure that most of you will agree with me, that we are ready for “a change!” Except, of course, if you are between the “morning,” and the “mid-afternoon” of your life! Even some in this time frame may already be complaining, though, most likely not for the same reasons, that we who have reached, or are nearing, the “late afternoon,” or “evening” of our lives. By this time, many “bodies” are squeaking, and bending, and asking for a change! We are longing to leave this body on earth, and receive the glorified body that the Lord has prepared for those who “love His appearing” (2 Timothy 4: 8, KJV)! This is a part of the glorious hope that many of the saints who have fallen asleep in the Lord, have held as very dear to their hearts: The change is coming!
The apostle talks about the possibility of “our earthly house, this tent,” being destroyed. This destruction could be partial (sickness, accidents, etc.) or total (death). But there are “no worries.” For this “old house” will eventually be replaced with “a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Hallelujah! In another Scripture the apostle, speaking of the resurrection, puts it this way, “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15: 42-44)! No matter in what condition the body of the believer descends to the grave, it will be raised, glorious! Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Next, the apostle describes the children of God as groaning, desiring to be set free from the “burden” of our earthly bodies, in the same way that all creation groans, waiting to be delivered from the bondage of sin and death (Romans 8: 21-23). Let me share with you, something that I noticed in my devotional this morning, that I had never noticed before, while reading this Scripture. It is the mention of being naked. So, after seeking wisdom from the Spirit of God, it dawned on me: if we are now clothed with our “tent,” and afterward, we will be clothed with our “building from God;” the period of nakedness, most likely is, while we are in the grave. Notice how the apostle puts it: ” For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life[!] In other words, it is not death that we anticipate, but the glorious resurrection, when we will be “further clothed [with immortality]!” Glory hallelujah! Tomorrow we will speak of an additional application of naked.
I recognize that this is not the belief of most Christians, so I searched for a possible meaning of the word “naked” in the Hebrew – Greek Key Word Study Bible, and came upon this meaning as applied to our Scripture for today, “Figuratively spoken of the soul as disencumbered of the body, in which it had been clothed” (pg. 2098). Is this not what death is – a separation of the breath of God (soul) from the body? Let us read Ecclesiastes 12: 7, “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”
A look at another portion of Scripture also reenforced my thoughts in this direction. We usually make reference to the words of Jesus to the thief on the cross that he would be with Jesus in His kingdom, that day. But listen to what Jesus said to Mary Magdalene, three days after He was crucified, “Jesus said to her, ‘ “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” ‘ ” Emphasis provided.
I am going to stop here for now. Tomorrow we will continue with the last portion of our Scripture for today. I humbly submit these thoughts for your prayerful consideration, until we resume our devotional tomorrow. In the mean time, please share with me your thoughts on the subject.
*(Stuart Hamblen).