We're going to look at a few different ideas in 2 Corinthians 5 today. This chapter begins by talking about our earthly bodies and our future Heavenly bodies. I especially like the Message Bible for the first 5 verses:
1-5For instance, 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.
This earthly body is just like a suit of clothes! You could say it is our "Earth suit"! You need a space suit to live in space and an Earth suit in order to live here on Earth. When this life is done, we won't need these bodies anymore, but will have resurrection bodies, just like Jesus now has! Remember that His resurrection body could walk through walls and be where He wanted to be quickly. Ours will, too! Verses 8-9 say this:
8[Yes] we have confident and hopeful courage and are pleased rather to be away from home out of the body and be at home with the Lord.9Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him.
I really love these verses! A believer in Jesus of Nazareth has the promise here that at the moment our body dies, our spirit and soul are immediately in the presence of the Lord! We go immediately from here to Heaven! Thank You, Lord Jesus! AMEN! Then we see this in verses 17-18:
17Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!18But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].
As believers, we are ALL called into the full time ministry! Not all will operate in the pulpit, but ALL have been called into the Ministry of Reconciliation. This is our mission:
19It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).20So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as Christ's personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God. 21For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].
We need to be letting people know that God isn't holding anything against anyone! He has already provided the way of escape! The only sin that is not covered by the Blood of Jesus of Nazareth, is the sin of rejecting Him! Is there any reason YOU can't receive Jesus right now as your Lord and personal Saviour? If you believe in your heart that Jesus died for YOUR sins, that He rose from the dead and you want Him to become your Lord and personal Saviour, then pray this prayer from your heart:
Almighty God, I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ came to this earth, died on the cross for me, was raised from the dead, and is now seated at Your right hand. I accept and receive Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and I invite Him to come into my heart and become Lord over my life. I thank You now Father, for welcoming me into Your family. You are my Father. I am Your child. Jesus is my Lord! Amen.
Now you ARE a child of God and need to get into the Word of God and get to really KNOW Him!
In Judges 13-14 we read about Samson. His parents received explicit instructions on how to raise him so that he would be in position to serve the Lord and fulfill God's plan for his life. Samson was used mightily of the Lord against the Philistines. We'll see in the next days what caused Samson to lose his focus! In the meantime, don't lose yours! Stay in the Word and in His presence daily so that you can keep HIM first place in your life! That's where He belongs - ALWAYS! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
