Let's talk tents, overcoats, and trade-ins

 

Easter is almost here!

For the little ones, that means some yummy chocolate bunnies and candy, no? For believers, it means a time of focus on Christ's mission. His purpose.

His love.

His death.

His resurrection.

Our salvation.

For some people, thinking of death is to be avoided at all costs. 

But it's not that hard for Christians. Because it's not the end of our story! So, as we prepare for Easter, let's talk about tents, and overcoats, and trade-ins, ok? (Grin) You'll see what I mean . . . 

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (II Corinthians 5:1-5)

So, instead of the usual passage from the gospels, I wanted to focus on Paul's words here in II Corinthians. This passage has a reputation for being difficult. But there's also a sweet simplicity to it that is very appealing. Even if we don't understand every word, the overall impression is that of hope. Paul tells us that we really have NOTHING to fear. No matter how we die, or when, or why . . .  we have a promise from God. 

It's. Not. The. End.

See, I even love the way that Paul begins this discussion: "now we know." It's a certainty, the concept that he is talking about. It's not conjecture. It's not guesswork. And it's not something we have to think about in terms of the future, either. NOW we know. 

The resurrection that Paul wants us to consider is an absolute certainty. 

There are not too many things in this life that are that certain!

Death is, after all, a mystery in that we have no clue when it will come our way. God knows. But we don't. And that is what makes some people afraid, while others decide it's a grand adventure. We know how old we are right now; we don't know how long we will live.  Analysts can compile huge lists and charts and actuarial calculations; they can compute means and averages. But how long we will still be breathing is a mystery - and each and every breath we take is a gift from God!

And as far as what happens after we die, the scientists have nothing to tell us. The philosophers can't say for sure. The analysts and data crunchers just can't say.

The second thing that Paul says is for sure is that we live in a tent.

Say what?

I'm not much of a tent person, myself. If I'm going to the woods or the mountains, it's to hike and come back. Give me a comfy bed inside with no "skeeters" as grandma used to say. Don't get me wrong - I'm crazy about the outdoors, and I'm happiest there. I'm in love with every birdie and animal, and I adore just looking about me at God's wonders. When I get to the top of the mountain, I thank Him for the strength He gave me to reach the peak, and then I enjoy looking at all He created. But go back to a campground (or my own pasture, for that matter) and sleep in a tent? 

Naah.

Tents can wear out and get holes. The zips can fail. The water can come in by drops or by rivulets. They are drafty and either too cold or too hot. (I know, you think I'm a wimp, now.)

But I wanted to make an analogy: our bodies are like tents, and this is what Paul is pointing to. Our bodies wear out and sag. Our heart pumps a little softer and our arteries sometimes have blockages. Gravity is not our friend - pulls everything down! Our hair gets thin, our back gets achy, and we bulge where we didn't before. We may get up in the morning feeling strong, but a microbe can knock us off our feet. 

We start to rely more on Vitamin C and OsteoBiFlex; we go to the gym and try to increase our strength and stamina. We make certain we eat what we should in the amounts that are ideal. 

ALL of this is good. But it won't make us live forever! 

But that's OK.

It's part of God's plan.

Look back at verse one . . . someday we will replace this tent with an actual building. Tents are temporary, no? They are not meant to last forever. A building is strong. It's built on a foundation. It's not meant to be moved about.  Someday we will give up our tents and replace them with buildings made by God Himself. 

What does this tell us?

Death is not the end.

It's not disappearing. It's not vaporizing. It's not that we are gone.

Death is a trade in.

We will trade in our battered and broken bodies for new bodies.

Paul even tells us about those bodies: they are from God, not made with human hands. They are eternal.

And this is for real.

For sure.

For certain.

More tomorrow . . . . .