In 2 Corinthians 5:1, the Apostle Paul describes our bodies as “tents” — “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed…”
Isn’t that a great metaphor? Your body is like a tent … fragile, temporary, easily blown over and broken. These bones, this heart, this brain – is flimsy – it’s fragile – and it’s only temporary. It won’t last.
And Paul says verse 2, “in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling”
We groan – because we’re afraid of what will happen when our bodies die. And we groan – because we long for a more solid – less flimsy body – that will last.
A solid future
Take a look at the full context of verse 1:
“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.”
Whereas on one hand our earthly body is like a tent that is flimsy and temporary – and will be destroyed. On the other hand, God has promised that when our earthly body is destroyed it will be replaced by a new body. That is not flimsy and temporary. But solid and permanent. Like a house.
That’s a pretty powerful contrast isn’t it?
For now we live in a tent. But when our earthly tent is destroyed, we will receive a “house”.
Your heavenly body
Paul’s NOT simply saying that when he dies he’ll go to heaven. He’s saying that when he dies he’ll get a brand new body!
Do you see the difference?
So often we assume that life after death will be less solid – more floaty – than life on earth. We have that cliched picture of angels floating in clouds playing harps in our heads and people often assume that’s what Christians hope for when they die. But that’s not it at all.
Paul’s point is that he looks forward to a future that does not involve floating in the clouds. It's not less solid but more solid – not less substantial but substantial – than this earthly experience.
More than you ever dreamed
God made humans to be souls and bodies – that’s part of the glory of our God-given design. And so if he’s going to redeem us and give us new life he’s hardly going to give us a new life that is just a shadow of the old life.
He’s not going to make us less substantial in the new creation than we are in this creation.
Humanity 2.0 will be more – more substantial – more solid – more human – than humanity version 1.
And so, when you’re feeling disappointed, discouraged and frustrated with the things of earth – remember that one day we will be at home with our Lord – and that life will be more than we ever dreamed it could be.