Our Scripture meditation is based on 2 Corinthians 5:1-5, the start of the epistle reading for next week.
[1] 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. [2] For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, [3] if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. [4] 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. [5] He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
When our children were young, we gave up tent camping and acquired a pop-up camper. Even though the camper was small, I got spoiled by sleeping in the “great outdoors” on a real mattress in air conditioning.
The past few years I returned to tent camping on personal treks. I can assure you that my body doesn’t handle sleeping on the ground as well as it did 30 years ago. There are aches and pains each morning that make me long for that little pop-up camper. My soreness at dawn also reminds me of this passage.
Apostle Paul is comparing our earthly home to a tent, because this home is temporary. Our earthly tabernacle is also fallen, scared by original sin. Because of sin, we groan and are burdened in daily life. We long for something more than this mortal existence.
Something more awaits us, something far superior to our best day on this mortal coil. As Paul writes, the mortal will be swallowed up by life. As we are told in Revelation chapter 21, a new heaven and new earth awaits us. A place where Jesus “will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21: 4)
Our lives truly are burdened but the day is coming when we will be unburdened.
Kevin Wilson 360 