No Longer Live For Ourselves – 2 Corinthians 5:1-15
Paul describes our earthly bodies as tents, temporary dwellings.
2 Corinthians 5:1-4
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 Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
We have this temporary body, and yet, we long and even groan for our eternal dwelling with God. In fact, God has made us for this new dwelling and has given us His Spirit as a guarantee, a deposit, a down payment, a promise that He will bring us into His eternal dwelling. Therefore, we have confidence and are even aware that while we are in this body, we are separated from the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Of course, we would much rather be away from these tents, these temporary dwellings, and be with the Lord. But regardless if we are here or there, we long to please God.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Even as redeemed followers of Jesus, we will have to give an account for everything we have done in these earthly bodies of ours. Because we have a healthy regard for what Christ has done and what the judgment is for those who reject Christ, we do all we can to persuade others to follow Christ. We may even seem out of our minds in our attempts to bring others to Christ, but God knows our hearts.
For the love of Christ compels us…
Unbelievable! The love of Christ compels us to even appear out of our minds, to do all we can to compel others to follow Him. Because we know God is with us and one day we will be with Him, because we know we will have to give an account, because we know that Christ died for us. In fact He died for all, all mankind, for all of us.
And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.
We should no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died for us. Wow!
How about us? Are we longing for our heavenly dwelling? Longing to be with the Lord? Are we secure in our eternity because of His indwelling Holy Spirit? Are we living by faith and not by sight? Are we caught up in how people see us on the outside, or are we even willing to be seen as out of our minds because our God sees our hearts? Are we so aware of God’s judgment, aware of Christ’s forgiveness, aware of eternity, aware of how Christ died for all, that His love compels us?
Are we living for ourselves in this temporary world in our temporary dwelling, or are we living for Him who has prepared an eternal home for all? If Christ died for us, we should live for Him. One day, we will be raised with Him – who will join us?
