Do you ever get out of bed in the morning with a groan? Do you sense changing weather
patterns with the aches and pains in your bones? Does your Achilles tendon that you tore
playing pickleball ever feel tight or sore? Whatever the purely hypothetical situation I am
offering to you, did you know that the Bible gives us hope about all these aches and pains? In fact, it is a hope that goes well beyond just the removal of physical discomfort.
In 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 the Apostle Paul talks about tents, but he is not referring to an
upcoming camping trip. He uses the image of a tent to talk about our physical bodies,
explaining that they are temporary. Did you know our physical bodies aren’t permanent, and as believers in Jesus, we can expect something much better? When Jesus returns, both Christians who are still alive and those who have passed away, will receive new, better bodies. Paul calls this new body a building, or a heavenly dwelling (v.1). It is a big upgrade from our current tent of flesh. This glorified, new body is what will accompany us to a new existence with God that will have no more tears, no more death, mourning or crying or pain! Yay God!!
All of this sounds amazing, but how do we know this will all happen? Paul reminds us that God has given us a pledge or a deposit for the renewal of these earthly bodies:
“…(God) has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 5:5b)
God gave us the Holy Spirit, which is the gift of His presence to us. It can serve as a sign that He is with us and that there is more to come.
So, how should these future gifts change how we live now? Because we know where we are headed, that we are being made new and we are made to be with God, let us now walk in those truths. Let us live not for the things of the world, but with eternity in mind. Yes, there are aches and pains now, but how am I using this body for the one who has and will give me good and perfect gifts? Let us look forward to our forever home, as we make the most of the days we are given here. May the aches, pains and burdens point us to the spiritual and physical peace we can receive from God. May those difficulties remind us that God sees us, heals us and has prepared a perfect future for us.
Thank you, Lord, for what you have done and what you will do in the future. Come Lord Jesus!
Blessings,
Pastor Mark
patterns with the aches and pains in your bones? Does your Achilles tendon that you tore
playing pickleball ever feel tight or sore? Whatever the purely hypothetical situation I am
offering to you, did you know that the Bible gives us hope about all these aches and pains? In fact, it is a hope that goes well beyond just the removal of physical discomfort.
In 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 the Apostle Paul talks about tents, but he is not referring to an
upcoming camping trip. He uses the image of a tent to talk about our physical bodies,
explaining that they are temporary. Did you know our physical bodies aren’t permanent, and as believers in Jesus, we can expect something much better? When Jesus returns, both Christians who are still alive and those who have passed away, will receive new, better bodies. Paul calls this new body a building, or a heavenly dwelling (v.1). It is a big upgrade from our current tent of flesh. This glorified, new body is what will accompany us to a new existence with God that will have no more tears, no more death, mourning or crying or pain! Yay God!!
All of this sounds amazing, but how do we know this will all happen? Paul reminds us that God has given us a pledge or a deposit for the renewal of these earthly bodies:
“…(God) has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 5:5b)
God gave us the Holy Spirit, which is the gift of His presence to us. It can serve as a sign that He is with us and that there is more to come.
So, how should these future gifts change how we live now? Because we know where we are headed, that we are being made new and we are made to be with God, let us now walk in those truths. Let us live not for the things of the world, but with eternity in mind. Yes, there are aches and pains now, but how am I using this body for the one who has and will give me good and perfect gifts? Let us look forward to our forever home, as we make the most of the days we are given here. May the aches, pains and burdens point us to the spiritual and physical peace we can receive from God. May those difficulties remind us that God sees us, heals us and has prepared a perfect future for us.
Thank you, Lord, for what you have done and what you will do in the future. Come Lord Jesus!
Blessings,
Pastor Mark