Scripture:
II Corinthians 5:1-8 NKJV
[1] 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. [2] For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, [3] if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked [4] 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. [5] Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. [6] So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. [7] For we walk by faith, not by sight. [8] We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
Observation:
Paul’s trip to Damascus was life-changing. As you read back over his story and the letters he wrote, you can see how one encounter with Jesus Christ impacted his life in a manner that still rings out in the pages of the bible today. This passage in 2nd Corinthians is just one spot where we can see the evidence of that encounter. Paul’s faith in the fact that this life is not the end of our existence is amazing. At this point, Paul had been in the missionary field for about 7 years and had written at least one letter to the church in Corinth. In fact, they believe that this second letter was written shortly after a personal visit. So Paul must have felt the impression on his heart to explain that the end of this life is the beginning of the next. After seeing the risen savior in the form of a light so bright that it blinded him for 3 days, Paul had confidence in the resurrection that could not be shaken. Although he could not physically see heaven, he knew that life after death was not a lie, literally, and he walked that out. Explaining that to others who did not have the same encounter was not an easy task, however. As his body started to wear out and the age started to take its toll. He had to be hoping and praying that a glorious new body, much like the one he saw Christ wearing that day, was waiting for him on the other side. Using pictures that were painted in the Old Testament during a festival that the Jewish people celebrated, called the festival of booths. The spirit of GOD dwells in houses made not by human hand. This celebration in one that commemorates the wandering in the wilderness for 40 years and living in temporary shelters. Much like this life, we are living now.
Application:
This body we live in now will at some point wear out, and that will be the end of it… but not us. This life here on earth is not our permanent residence. There is a life after this one. The “You only live once” kind of attitude is just not the truth. We will all live for eternity. The only question that remains is this… Where will that be. As for me, I know my eternal address. It’s a place called heaven. Right beside my father. Tucked up close to my brother Jesus. Although that’s not what can be seen, it’s just what I know, and I do my best to walk that out every day. The older I get and the more my body wears out. I can rest assured that this is not the end. This life may be temporary. We we are all sojourners, as the bible would say. In the letter to the Hebrews, we see a definition of what faith is. It’s believing in something so much that you walk it out whether you see that particular thing or not, and just like the hope of heaven that I pray we all have that’s not where faith ends here on earth. I can’t tell you how many situations in my life require a measure of faith. A moving forward even though I can’t see what has been promised. This exercise is shown all through the Bible. I could give an example after an example. In fact, the letter to the Hebrews had a whole chapter designated to it. My point to this SOAP this morning is not only to explain that this life is not the end of our existence. But that it will take faith to obtain what GOD has promised us here on this earth and in the life that comes after. Knowing that there are only 2 permanent places of residence in eternity should have some kind of effect on the way we walk here on earth. Here is the deal we are walking towards one of those places. If we are walking by faith. That means we have put out hope and trust in Jesus Christ and have started a relationship with HIM where HE is calling the shots because HE is our LORD. We are walking towards heaven. However, if that is not the case, and we are living to gratify our flesh living, however, we want and have no concern for what the bible says or who Jesus is and what HE did there is a whole other place for us. Ultimately, the choice is ours. I personally choose life, and I hope that if you are reading this , you have made the same choice. But how does that play out here on earth. Well, the bible says that Jesus came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. GOD has given us promises that pertain to our life here as well. For example, a land flowing with milk and honey. A life of more than enough these promises are going to require faith to obtain as well. You can’t stop walking in that direction just because you can’t see what GOD has promised. If I stopped walking out, GOD’S promises. I would still be a homeless drug addict with no hope of change. My heavenly Father has given me life and life more abundantly. He has told me there is more to this life here on earth than what I was living for, and I choose to walk that out no matter what it looks like in front of me. I am heading to the land HE promised me, which is a land of more than enough. Just like if I started walking from Oklahoma to California, I wouldn’t be able to see California from my starting position. Eventually, after walking for a while, I would be able to see it come into sight, and the hope of my arrival would grow. Again, my point is you might not be able to see what GOD has promised you, but that doesn’t change the fact that HE has promised it to you just walk it out. Head towards it because it’s real. GOD does not lie. If HE said you can have it, you can, but if you do not walk out, your faith in the promises it will never come into sight. Keep walking whether you can see it or not.
Prayer:
Father, we know that you can see what we can’t, and you have told us in your word step by step instructions on how to obtain what you have given us. Now, the ball is in our court, so to speak. The thing is, you know exactly how to lead us to get what you have so freely given us. So, all we can ask for is your guidance. Help us to see every step so that your promises will come into vision. We know that the further we walk, the closer we get to what you have said is already ours. Let our faith manifest itself in a belief that is so strong that it can not be shaken. Whether we are walking towards the promises here on earth or we are at the latter part of life where we are walking out our hope of heaven, keep our eyes fixed on you. We want our love for you to be seen in all we do. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.