How are you holding up, today? While it’s important to appreciate multiple aspects of our selves (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual), I encourage you to think about your physical self today. Is your body doing well, or does it have aches and pains? Is it all working well, or are illness, injury, or disease taking their toll? On any given day, most of us have to deal with something challenging related to our body. Even athletes who are in the pinnacle of health push themselves through pain to become stronger, faster, or generally better at their chosen sport.
I have the privilege of teaching a class of senior adults on a regular basis, and they like to remind me that no matter what aches and pains I am dealing with today, it will be worse when I get to their age (they are about 30 years older than me).
The next few articles are based on 2 Corinthians 5. Before we jump into that chapter, though, I’d like to review a few verses from the end of chapter 4.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV
As our body (and the world around us) experiences wear and tear, our souls or spirits are being renewed by God, as we learn more about Him, walk with Jesus, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Said another way, this old world isn’t expected to last, but that isn’t the end of the line. A new heaven and a new earth have been promised to those who accept Jesus’ offer of salvation, and our time here on this old earth will eventually just be a “blip” in eternity.
That last part is particularly important: The more that we focus on eternity, the less that temporary things matter. That’s why the first part of this particular passage in the Bible is one that I try to remember when things get tough. Paul here doesn’t pretend that things are easy on this earth. In fact, he went through a lot more troubles – including plenty of things that harmed his body – than I ever have.
So, how do we envision what will happen when we pass from this temporary, seen world to the next, eternal world (which is largely unseen by us, at least for now)? There could be a lot of personal answers to this (and I invite you to share yours in the comments below, if you care to), but let’s think about how some songs describe this change.
- For instance, I like the old song that says, “I’m gonna trade my earthly home for a better one, bright and fair.” and “I’ll receive a mansion, robe, and crown”.
- How about, “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passin’ through.” and “My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue”?
- There’s also, “Ain’t no grave gonna keep my body down.”
- And, “I’ve a home prepared where the saints abide, just over in the glory land.”
Among these lyrics, there’s this idea that our spirits will enter into new bodies (with robes and crowns, no less), and we’ll move into new mansions. Since eternity with God will be even better than we can imagine, finite concepts like these (i.e., descriptions that we can wrap our minds around) will probably have to do for now.
Let’s see what Paul had to say about the future in 2 Corinthians 5, starting in the next article (or, you’re welcome to just read that chapter now, and find out for yourself!)
From Sunday School lesson prepared for May 19, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, May 19, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 2 Corinthians, by William R. Baker. © 1999 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 