When Tent Dwelling Ends
In our culture, some taboo topics of discussion remain uncomfortable to discuss when someone brings them up. The kind of topic that makes people fidget outwardly and squirm inwardly. The kind of topic that many in the circle of conversation are thinking: “I wished he had not brought that up.” A topic like death.
Interestingly, the Bible speaks much of death. In fact, the apostle Paul dives into the topic of death often. But, when Paul speaks of death, rather than articulating the despair that most have when thinking of death, he speaks of the hope and even exciting anticipation that he has when looking forward to death.
Don’t construe that as a “death wish” or an unhealthy depression. Paul speaks of death in hopeful terms not necessarily because of how bad this life is but how great the next life is.
One of the passages where Paul brings up the usually uncomfortable topic of death is in 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. Here Paul compares the life on this earth to living in a tent. Then, he speaks of looking forward to a better dwelling for Christ-followers in the life to come.
The “tent” that Paul refers to is our earthly bodies. He begins the chapter by saying: “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed…” (2 Corinthians 5:1, NIV). Our earthly bodies are like tents. Tents are functional but not permanent. We are not going to live in this body forever. Tents can handle some wind and rain but cannot stand up to the ferocious storms.
Our bodies can handle some things, but not the worst that life can throw at us like cancer, disease, major accidents and trauma. Tents wear out. Our bodies break down over the years. Things don’t work like they once did. Muscles get tired sooner. Soreness creeps in earlier and lasts longer. Our bodies wear out and wear down. We live in a tent.
But, for Christians, for believers in Jesus, Paul writes: “…we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands” (2 Corinthians 5:1, NIV). Our heavenly body will not be a tent. To carry out the illustration, Paul calls that body a “building.” Tents are temporary; buildings are permanent. Our heavenly body will be “an eternal house in heaven.”
Tents are bodies for dwelling on earth. Our new body will be a “house in heaven” for dwelling in our eternal home. And, our next body is “not built by human hands.” That means that the heavenly body will be spiritual and glorified, not physical and mortal.
What is the use of all this information? I hope it brings you comfort and joy, especially if your earthly body is ravaged by disease or overcome by age. The body you live in now is just a tent. It is temporary. In Christ, you will receive a new body one day. That body will be your perfect, eternal, spiritual body.