2 Corinthians 5 - Tent Living

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2 Corinthians 5

Our earthy home is a tent. But waiting for us is a “building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Cor 5:1)
 
Paul, a tentmaker by trade, knows a thing or two about tents. They are flimsy, meant to be mobile and temporary. They handle good weather okay but take a beating in storms. They easily show their age over time. They aren’t meant to last forever.
 
Yes, you take care of your tent. Yes, there is good good work to do from your tent. But it isn’t meant to be your permanent home. You don’t install granite countertops and pristine hardwood floors. You don’t get too comfortable. It isn’t a forever home.
 
God traveled with the Israelites in a tent – a tabernacle. A temporary dwelling where His presence told them when to camp and when to pack it up and move on.
 
And then God came to earth in a fleshly tent in the person of Jesus. God with us. God more accessible. Dwelling among His people for roughly thirty years.
 
Upon Jesus’ departure home, a gift was given…the Holy Spirit to dwell within believers. We became the dwelling place. Our flesh the new tent. God in us; always with us. “He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” (2 Cor 5:5)
 
But it is still a tent. A temporary residence that is flimsy, worn, aged, fragile. This tent is not our ultimate home.  “For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling…while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened.” (2 Cor 5:2,4)
 
We know while we are at home in this body – in this human tent – we are away from the Lord. For now, we walk by faith. But soon, we will walk by sight. The worn out, temporary tent will be replaced by a perfect, permanent home. Our eternal heavenly dwelling. Can you even imagine?
 
We long with eager anticipation for our heavenly home, but for now, there is still work to do from the tent. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Cor 5:10) So, with our eyes on eternity, let us live our tent life well. Aiming to please the One who will one day welcome us home.

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