My Motivation #4
(2 Corinthians 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. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 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. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee” (2 Corinthians 5:1 – 5).
I don’t know about you, but when I wake up in the mornings or when I get up from a chair, I can have a tendency to groan. Whether I would like to admit it or not, my body is aging and I am not as young as I once was. Now, I’m not saying that I am old or anything, and I do hope that I have several years remaining of my time here on Earth, but these aches and pains help to remind me that I am currently living in a “tent” and my eternal home is waiting for me. How about you? Do you have a tendency to groan because of your tent?
In this chapter, Paul is trying to motivate us to not focus on the things of this world because they will pass away. Instead, we are to focus on where we will spend eternity. God has given His followers a guarantee (the Holy Spirit) as proof that we will one day spend eternity with Him in heaven. We know that what is next for us beyond this life is going to be so much better than we could ever imagine. Just try to imagine having a body that never feels any aches or pains. That would be amazing!
So, what are we supposed to do with this information? We should tell others about Jesus, of course! Our focus should be on what is eternal and not on what will waste away. If we view individuals as just bodies that roam the earth, we will have a tendency to judge them based on how they look, personalities, intelligence, etc. You know what I mean. But if we view individuals as eternal souls that will either spend eternity in heaven (saved) or forever in hell (unsaved), we will be more motivated to reach them with the gospel of Christ, right? Jesus, our Lord and Savior, came to Earth to suffer death on the cross because He wants us to spend eternity with Him — not just you and me, but everyone. He wants every one of us to share the truth.
Who do you know that needs to hear the truth about God’s love for them? Maybe it is a friend, a family member, or even a coworker that you know. Maybe you are the only Christian that they know and come into contact with. I encourage you to spend time right now and throughout the week to pray for an opportunity to share the Gospel with the people the Lord brings to mind. Remember, our bodies that our souls reside in are referred to as “tents.” They are fragile and temporary. God has made a home in heaven for the souls who put their faith and trust in Him. Do your part and tell as many souls as you can about Him. Focus on the eternal.
Pastor David Guenin