2 Corinthians 5
1Now 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. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
1Now 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. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
The Bible tells us that we who are born again are “pilgrims and strangers” in this world, 1 Pet. 2:11. When we got saved, we became citizens of a place called Heaven, Phil. 3:20. Since that is true, there is a pull from another land within the heart of the child of God. It just seems that we don’t fit in down here like we did before we were saved. This world just doesn’t feel as comfortable to the child of God has it used to. There is a desire within those who are saved to leave this world and go to Heaven. Would you agree with that today? This same desire was also within the heart of Paul. He wrote this in Phil. 1:23, “For I am in a strait between two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:” Here, in our scripture today, Paul seems to be writing from the heart of one who is longing for his heavenly home. As I read what Paul has written here and what he penned down in other places, he seems to be saying, “I feel like traveling on!” “I feel like going home!”
There are times when we all feel that way. There are times when we look at this life with all the burdens and sorrow and we long for our heavenly home. There are many days when we would all have to confess, if we were honest, that “we feel like traveling home.” Because this life is temporary, we are all touched by the icy hand of death. We watch our loved ones leave this world, and we must prepare to leave it ourselves. This is one truth that makes this temporary life a difficult time! As we deal with matters like disease, infirmity, aging, death and the many tragedies life can bring our way, we are made to understand that this life is a life filled with problems. Thank God again that this life is temporary! Thank God that Jesus is home keeping it for us!
Many years ago, men used to sail around the Mediterranean and within the Mediterranean, that great sea. It is called the Mediterranean because the word literally means "the middle of the earth." Well every now and then they would go to the Straits of Gibraltar, and they would venture out a little way into that open sea, and then they would come back into the Straits of Gibraltar and back into the Mediterranean. That great Rock of Gibraltar, rising up there out of the sea, had some caves, and these mariners would go up into these caves and rest and stay for awhile. They chiseled on the rocks of Gibraltar these words in Latin: "Ne plus ultra” which means "there is nothing beyond." As far as they knew, that was the stepping off place that was the end of the world. As far as they knew, their world ended with the Rock of Gibraltar.
Then one day a man by the name of Christopher Columbus set sail. Columbus sailed west, came to a brand new world, discovered the Americas, came back and told people what he had seen. Some mariners went back up to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar and they chiseled off the "Ne" and simply left the words "plus ultra." The inscription which before had read, “no more beyond," now simply said, "more beyond." For everyone who has received the Lord Jesus, when you come to the end of the journey, there is more beyond, more than you could ever dream, more than you could ever imagine. Having been in the Navy for over 24 years now, I remember the first time I saw the Rock for myself. God is magnificent! His wonders are beyond the scope of man! And as my Pastors often say; “Eyes have not seen, and ears have not heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for all of us that love him." Are you ready to go home? Have a blessed week! AMEN!
Adapted By: Elder Michael L. Hargett
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