As most of us grow older, we find our bodies wearing down. We can’t do the things we used to when younger, and certainly not as fast or as efficiently as before. For many, thoughts of aging can be depressing, along with fears of death. Here in Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, he gives believers hope for the future. Let’s take a look at this Scripture.
As Paul begins this passage he uses some metaphors, comparing our human, physical body with that of an earthly house or tent (vs 1). Like an earthly dwelling, our bodies wear down, and are also temporary. The “building from God” represents the believer’s resurrected, glorified body. Our earthly bodies make us groan. When we die we are not spirits without bodies (vs 2-3). We will have new, perfect bodies, without sickness, disease, or pain. Many of us have, or had, major illnesses or crippling accidents, which continue to afflict us day after day. These will all be gone when we receive our new bodies.
Unlike many people today, including some believers, Paul was not afraid to die (vs 6-8). Paul knew that when he passed from this life he would be immediately in the presence of Jesus. All pain and sorrow will then be gone and we will have fellowship with Jesus forever. For this reason, too, we need not fear death, either. The unknown can cause anxiety, but we have the hope and confidence of eternal life.
Here in the middle of our passage Paul gives a statement that should be a hallmark of believers who walk closely with the Lord (vs 7). As Christians we are to walk by faith, not by sight. When pilots are taught to fly an airplane they are instructed to trust the controls on the control panel, and not their own sight or feelings. This is particularly true when weather conditions like fog, clouds, or blizzards occur. Just like these pilots, we need to trust God, not what we see in our life or our circumstances, living by faith not our feelings. Worry and trust cannot abide together. Trusting in God will allow Him to work within us. We can walk by faith and not by sight because we have faith in the resurrection of our body. We do not need to fear death or suffering. When we get to heaven we will receive a perfect body, one that does not bear the marks of sin or this broken world. In verse 9, Paul instructs us that our aim and delight should be to please the Lord. No matter what the circumstances we face are, we need to trust and obey Jesus.
Finally, as Paul closes up our Scripture passage, he speaks of one event that will occur for believers after they have passed from this life. In verse 10 we read that all Christians must give an account for how they have lived. We also read of this, both in the Gospels and other of Paul’s Epistles (Matthew 16:27; Romans 14:10-12; and I Corinthians 3:10-15).
There are two different and distinct final judgments spoken of in the Bible. One is the Great White Throne Judgment, which is for the unsaved (Revelation 20:11-15). All believers’ names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27). Believers will go before the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is not a place of condemnation (Romans 8:1), but of accountability. We will be rewarded for the things we have done for Jesus, and our obedience to Him. Our good works do not save us, as the Bible make it very clear we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. However, after salvation we should be living lives and doing works that please the Lord (Ephesians 2:8-10). It is these works, those done after we are saved, that we are judged on, and rewarded for or not, accordingly.
Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Believers have the hope of both eternal life and a new glorified body to replace this worn out one we currently have. For those who have faith in Jesus, the best is yet to come!
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