Old Tent

Old Tents

Sept. 21

Let’s be honest for a second. We spend a lot of our time in life trying to make ourselves comfortable. We buy new cars and remodel our houses. Some of us have shoe fetishes and buy nice clothes. Others may workout insistently. Or go and get plastic surgery. Here’s the bottom line. If there is no after life there’s really no point in even getting dressed for the day. Think about if for a minute. If there is nothing after this then why all the effort while we are alive? We will all die and then that’s it. On the other hand, if there is something more after this life then what’s the point? What?

What is the point in all the effort of making ourselves comfortable and look good if there is more to life than just this?  Is there something better we could be doing?

“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.”

2 Corinthians 5:1-4 NIV

Let’s be honest again for a moment. No matter how fancy your tent may be it’s still just a tent. No matter how comfortable or good it looks its just a tent and in time it will all fall apart. Perhaps we would be better off spending our time somewhere else. Instead of spending so much time and energy on an old, raggedy tent lets spend it on something that counts. This tent I live in is on its last leg. Truth be told from the moment I was born my tent has been in the process of breaking down. Good news though, God is making a new place. Not a tent but a building made by God. Thus, unlike this shell I live in now my new body will never break down. My new body will not get sick or tired. Will not get hungry or sleepy. But the best part I will eat and enjoy food and never get fat. My new body will be incorruptible. We are told we will receive a new body like Jesus, well His body had flesh and bone. He could be seen and felt. He ate food and had fellowship with others. He also could move through solid objects and appear wherever He wanted to be. If we are getting bodies like His we also will have the same characteristics. This new body will never feel pain, sorrow or suffering it will be like living in heaven. (Pun intended) Brothers and sisters the day that we take off our old tent and put on our new body is fast approaching for all of us. If our time is short (and it is even if you live to be 100) then should we not be more focused on what truly matters? Have joy for our King is fast coming to gather us home.

“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;”

1 Corinthians 15:42-43 NIV