March 26, 2014
THE WAITING ROOM
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
Monica Jackson
Central Truth
God has wired our very being to constantly yearn and groan for eternity with Him in heaven.
Key Verse | 2 Corinthians 5:8
Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
Our Heavenly Dwelling
1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on 1 5:3 Some manuscripts putting it off we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Dive Deeper | 2 Corinthians 5:1-10
Look at the world we live in today: death, destruction, despair, betrayal, divorce, separation from God -- and the list continues. It's no wonder that we would rather spend our time in heaven with the Lord than on earth. As this passage promises, everything -- even our current circumstances -- is temporary. I'm particularly thankful that the thick, fog-like depression I suffered after the birth of my first son was temporary. I've never longed to be home with the Lord more than during those several bleak months. The hope I would constantly cling to was the promise of something better waiting for me in heaven. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:2 (NASB), "For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven." This message of hope tells us that we can hold fast to God's promise of an eternity with Him even though this earth is full of brokenness.
After years of being "lukewarm," I began seeking God earnestly, and He blessed me with new mercies each day (Lamentations 3:22-23). The more I sought Him, the more I became increasingly aware that His purpose for all of us is not to become lost in our present circumstances, good or bad, but to have an eternal perspective. God's desire is for us to be the body of Christ, working during our time here, all the while hoping for the promised everlasting life after our temporary "tent" blows away.
2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us that we will be recompensed for our deeds done on earth, whether good or bad. My prayer is that we can see the earth as heaven's waiting room. Like most waiting rooms, we are here only for a relatively short time while hoping for something better on the other side. While we are here, we are called to serve the Lord and to be pleasing to Him. How will you spend your time in the waiting room?
Discussion Questions
1. How is your current "waiting room" situation? Are you focused more on the temporary or on the eternal?
2. Did you know before today that we will be recompensed for our deeds, whether good or bad, at the actual Judgment Seat of Christ?
Dr. Constable (http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/2corinthians.pdf) notes about 2 Corinthians 5:10 (citations omitted): "The Greek word translated 'bad' really means worthless. The idea is not that God will reward us for the good things we did and punish us for the bad things we did. He will rather reward us for the worthwhile things we did and not reward us for the worthless things we did. The worthwhile things are those that contribute to the advancement of God's mission and glory in the world. Worthless deeds are those that make no contribution to the fulfillment of God's good purposes."
How will this affect your daily life?
3. Does the promise of heaven for you outshine your circumstances of earth?