For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. – 2 Corinthians 5:1 (NIV)
Paul starts this verse by proclaiming, “We know.” We, as Christians, are to be aware of what God’s unchanging word says about life after death.
We all embark on a path to death the moment we are born. Throughout our time on Earth, we live in a physical body that will eventually meet its unavoidable demise. As the Bible mentions, when our physical life ends, and the body rests in the grave, we return to dust. Paul’s comparison of our physical bodies is to a transient earthly tent. Paul says that our tents would eventually be torn down, maybe due to hardship, pain, sickness and ageing.
This body that we currently have will eventually be exchanged for a much more superior, long-term home–a perfected, resurrected, glorious body. The fact is that this earthly body is not our eternal home should bring comfort to all of us as God’s children.
God has prepared a home with Him that will last forever- our forever home. When our physical body dies, our spirit and soul go to the place the Lord has built for us. We are guaranteed this home only when we put our faith in Him.
