16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
5:1 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.
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 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.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
With the knowledge that we will one day be raised with Jesus, Paul was able to say that that he did not lose heart. It is easy to lose heart when we focus on our current circumstances rather than having a heavenly perspective. Even though our outer self, our physical body, is wasting away by getting older and decaying, our inner self is able to renew day by day as we focus on God’s word (Rom 12:2). Whatever we might experience in this life it should be considered light compared with the weight of eternal glory that we are being prepared for. We need to have our focus on the unseen things of eternity rather than the visible things of this life, which are transient.
Our bodies are temporary, like a tent. But we have a building prepared by God awaiting us in heaven. In our present bodies, we groan as we suffer aches and pains, and experience suffering of various kinds. But we can look forward to permanent bodies prepared for us by God that He will give us in heaven. And He has given us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee, like a down payment, assuring us that this will happen.
And so we can live with confidence. We know that while we are alive in this body, we are not in God’s presence. We walk by faith, not by sight. We have courage because while we have not yet received our heavenly bodies, we know that God will give us what He has promised. Paul looked forward with preference to be at home with the Lord (Phil 1:21-23). But while he remained on earth, he lived with the aim of pleasing God. One day we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Our life on earth should be lived with that day in mind. Our objective should be to hear, “well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt 25:21). This judgment seat of Christ is where believers will be evaluated for the lives we have lived in Christ. It is not the place where our eternal destiny will be decided because Jesus has promised that believers will not come into judgment over our eternal destiny (John 5:24). When we stand before Jesus, our lives will be evaluated and we will receive rewards for how we have lived.
Are you confident that when you stand before Jesus you will hear, “well done, good and faithful servant”? If not, it’s not too late to start serving Him with the talents and gifts He has given you.
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
The Certainty of God’s Testimony: 1 John 5