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TRANSCRIPT
Today we are in 2nd Corinthians 5.
Paul is writing to the church at Corinth where some false teachers had begun trying to influence the church. In this chapter he is encouraging them to remember that while we are alive we are living in a temporary human body residence, that we have the assurance of Heaven.
In John chapter 14, verse 2-3 Jesus said, “In my father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.”
Paul was a tentmaker and used the illustration of tent as our human body. He used the tent as an example of a temporary residence. Our human body is not our permanent home. Our tent (or our body) is taken down at death as we receive our heavenly, eternal body. Paul explained that just like Christ was raised from the dead by God’s power, we will be raised and given a new spiritual body by the power of God.
The body we live in is temporary and while we are alive here on Earth, we are separated from God. So our goal is to please God and do His will—to make our lives here an investment in the eternal, not just focusing on life here to the exclusion of eternity.
It is sometimes hard to focus on the eternal or unseen because everyday life is in front of us taking our time and energies and it is easy to forget that our spirit is eternal. In verse 10 Paul states that we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
We should be looking forward to and working for the day we get to be with Christ. Looking forward to the abundant, joyful, vibrant, eternal life with Christ. Since we have hope of this wonderful eternal life with our Savior, we are appointed as ambassadors to those around us to spread this message of reconciliation to God, of forgiveness and of hope and of eternal life. God is trusting us with His message. You and I are His ambassadors.