A Heavenly Body
Beloved of God, by His grace let us be soberly reminded: when this earthly tent—our body—is torn down, we have a promise that sets us apart from the lost. According to God’s Word, we shall be raised with a new body, a heavenly body, one free from the corruption of this fallen world, fit to stand in the presence of God. This is our living hope and sure inheritance, guaranteed by the resurrection of Christ Himself.
With such a hope before us, how much more ought we to pursue our identity in Christ now, while we dwell in this frail tent, subduing every carnal corruption and honoring Him with every faculty of our being. Never again will we have a time such as this—a season of pilgrimage where the battle with indwelling sin calls us to holy conquest. Oh, that we may, by God’s Word, sharpen our finite minds, and in the midst of a land shrouded in darkness, shine forth His glory.
These are the very exhortations the apostle gave to the church at Corinth, who were beset on every side by temptations threatening to pierce their shield of faith and drag them into ruin. Corinth was a city drenched in darkness, overflowing with immorality and sin, where every enticement was made readily available to corrupt the fallen heart of man. How needful, then, were Paul’s words for them—and how needful they remain for us today.
The apostle Paul writes, “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens not made with hands. For indeed, in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a pledge.”
Take courage, child of God. He will strengthen you in due season to endure every trial. This earthly body—frail and corrupted by sin—can never stand in the presence of the Holy One. But we have the sure promises of God: that an incorruptible body awaits us. Therefore, we walk by faith and not by sight.
The Holy Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, for Christ, our great Substitute, bore away our transgressions two thousand years ago. Nailed to the tree, He declared with His final breath, “It is finished!” and commended His spirit into the Father’s hands. Yet death could not hold Him—for on the third day He rose again, witnessed by more than five hundred, securing our redemption forever.
This is our assurance: just as Christ was raised from the dead by the Spirit of holiness, so we also shall be raised. All who are in Him will be clothed with incorruption, glorified to stand eternally in the presence of our beloved Savior. Paul reminds us, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”
Therefore, my brothers and sisters in Christ, for all eternity we will gaze upon His wounds in holy adoration, worshiping the Lamb who was slain and now lives forevermore. With glorified bodies, free from sin and corruption, we shall behold Him as He is. What a glorious moment it will be when these eyes—once veiled by sin—at last behold our Savior face to face. This is one of the great strengths that sustains us, enabling us to persevere through every struggle in this passing world.
And to you, dear reader, if you do not know this great King of whom I write, I pray that God will open your eyes to behold the Son of God, who bore sin upon the tree. Today, consider Jesus Christ, and cast your entire hope for life and eternity upon Him. He has never turned away any who come to Him in faith and repentance. May the Holy Spirit even now draw you to Christ, that you might find in Him forgiveness, life, and everlasting joy.
“For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands.” 2 Corinthians 5:1 CSB