Our Mortal Bodies June 16th, 2024
Our great eternal Father, be with the men in our church and community this Father’s Day, that they may be lights in the lives of all those around them. God of patience and persistence, speak through the Scriptures, and inspire our growth and gratitude, so that we may be changed by what we hear. Open our minds and hearts to a fresh encounter with Christ, your Living Word. Amen.
I’ve reached a point in my life where a question looms larger and larger for me, and also for those people around me, a question which is concerning, and is far from having an easy, or clear answer. The fact is, that as we age, our earthly bodies begin to wear out, and as they do, we begin to think more and more about what happens to us after our they cease to function.
This is a question which comes up more and more in discussions I have with people and it’s not always easy to give an answer to them. However, the Bible, particularly the New Testament, contains numerous passages that offers guidance, can shed light on this question, and will strengthen us in our faith.
One of these passages, which we heard read this morning, came from the Apostle Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Paul addresses this question in some detail, so let’s have a look at what he wrote, and hopefully, he will give us some confidence and lessen our worries as we struggle with the challenge of what’s next, either for ourselves or for others close to us.
Paul begins the passage with these words, “So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure.” What Paul is telling us is that while our physical bodies are starting to fade and diminish, at the same time our inner nature, being our soul, is growing greater, fuller, and wiser all the time. Throughout our lives, as we walk with Christ, and our love for him deepens, our understanding of God’s ways increases, and our faith deepens and grows stronger. As we learn more and more about God, he prepares us for what’s to come. That is a great comfort, God knows we will worry about these adjustments, but he equips us with his Word.
Therefore, as Paul says, we should not lose heart. Believers must remember that problems and suffering are not a sign of God’s anger or rejection. Bad things happen to faithful followers in a fallen world. The disciple Peter warned us of this when he wrote, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.” (1 Pet. 4:12-13) Difficult circumstances are for strengthening our spiritual strength and faithfulness. While our physical bodies may weaken, there is a spirit within us that is continually renewing and growing stronger. Life’s trials serve a higher purpose, shaping our characters and preparing us for a future beyond our physical bodies.
Paul then says, “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.” This is a perfect comparison for Paul to make, as his trade was a tent maker and leather worker. He would have known a lot about not just making tents, but also repairing them. He would have seen that a tent has a certain lifespan, and despite any repairs along the way, it will eventually wear out. And it’s much the same way with our physical bodies. Parts may start to wear but God is our strength and refuge, it’s part of his plan and he will guide us through these trials. He is always there along side of us.
Paul speaks here about our belief in eternal life, that is, life after death. He uses the metaphor of an “earthly tent” to represent our mortal bodies, suggesting that they are temporary and not our true home. The “building from God” symbolizes an eternal, heavenly body that we, as followers of Jesus, look forward to after death. This passage should comfort us as it reminds us that our struggles here on earth are only temporary and that there is the promise of a permanent, divine dwelling beyond this life.
Paul was aware that with each passing year, his physical strength was diminishing, yet he was equally conscious of a daily renewal happening within. This experience is universal; as our physical form loses vigor, our inner essence—our soul—gains strength. It’s in this strengthening of the spirit that we find our hope for the wonderful destiny that awaits us.
Paul continues on to say, “For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” Because of the fall of Adam and Eve there is something wrong with the world in which we live. And there is something temporary and incomplete about these bodies in which we dwell. Our earthly groaning reminds us that we live in a fallen world, and that these bodies and this earth are to be replaced by something far better. Do we groan? Of course, as it’s not easy for many and God understands that. But one day this groaning will be replaced by constant rejoicing, as we inhabit our new bodies in the eternal presence of our God.
And this promise of new bodies is assured by God, who provides the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of the eternal life promised to believers. This assurance is a source of comfort and hope, reminding us that the struggles and burdens of this life are temporary, and a glorious, eternal existence awaits. This is our belief in life after death and the transformation of the mortal body into an immortal one. Paul speaks to the core of Christian hope and the belief in the resurrection, where mortality is not something to fear, but something that occurs through divine grace of God. As followers of Christ, we can take strength from God in all trials and tribulations, he is there for us through it all.
And because of Paul’s faith in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting he was able to say, “So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” Here Paul speaks to the confidence we have that comes from believing in something greater than ourselves, something that cannot be seen or touched, but is felt deeply within. It’s about the journey of life, navigating through it with trust and belief in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The principle of walking by faith and not by sight is a powerful testament to the strength of conviction and the courage to believe in the unseen. It’s a reminder that our physical presence is temporary, and that there’s a longing for a spiritual home with the Lord. It’s a call to live with purpose, to trust in the path laid out by faith, and to find solace in the belief of an eternal home. Paul’s words encourage us to live securely, with faith as our compass, guiding us through the uncertainties of life towards a hopeful and assured future in the presence of our Lord and Saviour.
The only way a person can be joyful and confident in the midst of worldly suffering is to “see” by faith the certainty of the heavenly blessings which await us, due to the work of our Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary. Faith enables us to see heaven as clearly as earth, to look forward to our future hope of glory while in the midst of great earthly tribulations.
For the Christian, those things which are eternal are certain because our Lord has promised them to us. Our earthly afflictions pale in light of these certain, but unseen, eternal blessings. The secret is focusing on the inner soul not the outer body, focusing on the spiritual and not the physical. The secret is to look to the future, not the present, to take your eyes off present problems, and look at future glory with God.
Let us Pray:
How we thank you, Lord, that you continue to build our faith even as we suffer through our earthly challenges. Be with us each and every day, give us strength and help us see the glory that shall be revealed when we are with you again. We thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus, who sacrificed himself to take away our sins and for the presence of the Holy Spirit who is our helper and our guide throughout our lives. Amen