Tents, overcoats, and trade-ins

So, we talked about tents. 
Now, let's move on to overcoats! (Grin)

Let's refresh our memory of our focus passage from Paul. If you have time, turn to II Corinthians but if not, let's zero in on these verses:

Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 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, there are a lot of things we DON'T know about the future, but one thing is for certain, Paul says. We will NOT have to live in tents forever.

Someday, this "tent" body will be replaced by a building made by God's hands. And I don't know about you, but I'd like to learn more about this resurrection body . . . 

When Paul says "longing to be clothed," the scholars tell us that he used an unusual Greek verb. It means something like "to be clothed upon." It has the idea or the mental picture of a man putting on an overcoat, they say. Literally a coat put over (or upon) a body.

When I read that in the commentaries, I could picture Paul, sitting and writing (or dictating his letter) and smiling to himself. I think he was thinking about "wow, I can't wait for the day when my Lord returns. I'm going to put on my new resurrection body just like a man slips on a toga over his tunic." Or in today's vernacular, like a man or a woman slips on an overcoat. 

No more groaning.

We may groan because we are mourning choices we have made. We groan because we dislike our job. Because we have unfulfilled dreams. Because our children are making poor choices. Because other people disappoint us. Because our spouses hurt us. 

We groan because this is a fallen, broken down, messed up world. Because we are in pain. Because we are looking for a better day, a better place, a happier time.

That world will have . . . 

No cancer.

No abuse.

No insults.

No greed.

No hatred.

No night.

No death.

If there is one thing that has touched more hearts during the Wuhan virus pandemic, I believe it's that there have been so many people who have died alone.

That's probably one of the greatest fears that people have, when they consider death. Death is sad enough - but to die with no one else there to comfort you? How blessed we are if we are able to die with our loved ones by our side. 

Paul says that when we die, we will not die alone. We will be with Jesus forever. If we should live until Christ returns to this earth, we will receive our resurrection body then. Either way, we have a hope that death and thoughts of death can not shake.

This is the message of this passage, and the message of Christ's cross. 

What about believers who die before Jesus returns? I think the clearest, easiest-to-understand thing we can say is that they are "with the Lord." In heaven.

Paul says:

5 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.

6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 

We don't have to worry about our loved ones who died in Christ. We don't have to worry if we die before He returns. They passed (and we will pass) into the presence of Jesus Himself. That may be all we can know for certain -- but that's enough! 

Paul states things clearly in I Thessalonians:

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. (I Thessalonians 4:13-14)

Paul says the dead in Christ will rise first when Jesus returns. Then those who are still alive here on earth and believe on Him. I believe with all my heart that it's enough (in fact, it's more than enough!) to know that they are "with the Lord" and will be with Him forever. And that if I'm still alive when He returns, I will join them all with Jesus.

Dear reader, doesn't that stir your heart? My eyes are misty as I think on these things. But not from sadness -- I'm so very happy! 

According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. (I Thessalonians 4:15-18)

I'm in a tent now.

But I know there's an overcoat in my future!

More when we finish, tomorrow . . . .