Live life

Scripture

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Now 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. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For 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. Now 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. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Observation

We live in a paradox as Christians. Whilst this life is created by God so is eternity. Whilst there is enjoyment and excitement in this life it is nothing as compared to the next stage to come. So we live wanting to live but also wanting to pass into the eternal. How do we actually exist in this struggle? It is the truth that there are not two lives to be lived (Here and there) but it is one life that we live, this life here is one part of it and then in death we move not to a new life but to another stage of life. We are therefore called to live rightly now for it impacts then! If we are good then we will receive what is due us, if we are bad then we will receive what that has stored up for us.

Application

Do you live your life to just make it to heaven or do you live your life so as to impact heaven?

What can you do with your life so as to live in such a way as to receive in heaven the things that you hope to receive?

Prayer

Lord of all creation, heaven and earth, may I live now for what you have now and look forward to what will be on the day I enter heaven with you.