Sometimes I wish I could alter the rest of me as easily as I can color my hair.
You see, I’ve reached the age where my body has begun to show some wear. And I must admit that there are times when I’d love to switch it out for a new one—a younger, tougher, taller one—with lots of athletic ability thrown in! But that’s not going to happen—at least, not here on earth.
These beautiful verses from II Corinthians 5 explain how it works. “We know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we’ll never have to relocate our tents again.
Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less.”
God says our bodies are like tents. They house us for a time. They get battered and bruised and fall apart. We renew and repair them as best we can. But they are not built for eternity. Only the personalities who live in them are.
In this all-important way, we are like our Lord. As John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
In the original, that phrase “made his dwelling” is actually tabernacled or tented. Isn’t that cool?
It’s even better in the Message . . .
Jesus tented among us. And when it was time to go, he folded up His earthly tent and headed for home.
Oh, soak in this truth, friends. Because where He is, we will someday be. While He was here, He was like us. And when we are there, we shall be like Him!
Maranatha!
For further reading on this topic, see The Alien Inside Me.
This week I’m linking up with Soli Deo Gloria, Monday Musings, Sharing His Beauty, The Better Mom. Gratituesdays, and Teach Me Tuesday.
Amen, amen, amen! I’m with ya, Renee. I’m sick of this imperfect body with all of its aches and pains, and life with all of its aches and pains. I can’t wait to see my Lord face to face, and get my “happily ever after” at last.
Well-said, Gwen! Thanks for stopping by today. Blessings!
Beautiful words that help me long for our permanent home.
Fondly,
Glenda
Thanks for your encouragement, Glenda. Blessings!
My tent is aging, too. But Heaven…our forever home!
And that’s definitely cause to rejoice, Pamela! Blessings!
renee, thanks for the comment on the proverbs heroine. it’s given me a chance to explain the difficulty i had adding your blog to that archived post…my limitation i’m sure. meanwhile i do mention it when hopping to the other participants.
Don’t worry about the links, Diane. I’m just glad you joined in and visited around. Thank you so much!
Something to look forward to! =D