II Corinthians 5:1-5 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
I don’t have to say a whole lot about the present body. What are the characteristics of this earthly house? Our body is temporary. Paul called it a tabernacle. As compared to the tabernacle in the Old Testament, it was a tent; it was mobile. It was not intended to be permanent. Our body is very temporary. James says our life is a vapor appearing for a little while. You and I won’t stay here long. This body is decaying. Paul used the word “dissolved.” We can relate to that. Our body causes us to groan (v 4). It is exposed; in verse 3 Paul used the word “naked.” We’re exposed to time, disease, sorrow and heartache. We’re going to have sickness and sorrow in this body. This body is inconvenient. It becomes increasingly difficult to make ourselves presentable. We may extend our life by exercise and a good diet, but eventually it gets harder and harder.
Our eternal house–body–is the opposite of all I just described. It’s a house not made with hands; it will be fashioned like Jesus Christ. It will be eternal; we’ll never know death. I don’t know how old we’ll be, but this body will last forever. It will be an attractive body. There’ll be no ugly in heaven. In verse 5 Paul used the word “earnest” to assure us of these things. We know the origin of that word. It’s the security, the assurance. We’ll be in a good place called heaven in a better house in a better neighborhood.
It’s not easy for our minds to grasp what awaits us in our heavenly existence. Hebrews 4:9 says it’s a place of rest. We’ll rest from sin because the devil won’t be there. We’ll rest from our labors. I’m one that’s always doing something. I stay active. But it’s good to sit down and rest. We’ll rest from sorrow. This is not the final world. There’s a brighter day coming. The Bible tells us weeping endures for a night but joy comes in the morning. We’ll rest from all pain and suffering. Imagine a body that never has pain! We’re trading up for sure!!
This will be a place of music. In Revelation we read of a heavenly choir singing praises to God. It’s a place of perfect knowledge. We may not understand it now, but in heaven we will if God desires it so. It’s a place of reunion. We’ll meet all those gone on to heaven before us. We have reunions down here. It’s a good time. We usually do it once a year but when we get to glory we’ll meet again never to part.
What’s essential to having all this? It is absolutely essential that a person must accept Jesus Christ as Savior. Jesus said no one comes to the Father except by him. He’s the way, the only way. You can go to heaven without a lot of things but you’ll never go there without knowing Jesus Christ as Savior. Meet him today. Ask him into your heart and live for him. The eternal home will be worth it all.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 