2 Corinthians 5 (7)

Pray Psalm 27.4-6.
One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

Sing Psalm 27.4-6.
(St. Denio: Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise)
One thing we request but to dwell with You, LORD.
Your beauty to test and to think on Your Word.
In trouble You hide us secure in Your grace;
no foe may o’erride us: We sing of Your praise.

Review 2 Corinthians 5.1-21; meditate on verses v. 1.

Preparation
1. What can we expect for our earthly body?

2. What follows that?

Meditation
Paul’s confidence as a follower of Christ depended on his being able to “see” into the unseen realm and even into the future. The importance of this focus and orientation appears in various of his epistles, as in Colossians 3.1-3, Ephesians 1.15-23, 1 Corinthians 15, 2 Corinthians 4.16-18, and 2 Corinthians 5. We must admit, that few believers today assume such a vantage point on life.

But perhaps this explains our lack of fervor for the Gospel? Our entanglement in earthly and fleeting things? Our lack of joy and enthusiasm in worshiping and serving the Lord? If we “saw” as clearly as Paul did what lies ahead for us, we might find our confidence, boldness, peace, and joy more constant and abounding.

In 2 Corinthians 5 it is clear Paul has our eternal destiny in mind. He promises that, having endured a form of purgation (v. 10), we shall receive a new body, prepared for us in heaven and made not by hands but by the Word of God (vv. 1-3). This leads to the end of human mortality, for then we shall live forever (v. 4). God is even now preparing this for us, and He has given us His Spirit as a “guarantee” of much more to come (v. 5). For now, that we may be pleasing to God and fulfill our callings as His ambassadors (v. 20), we look to Jesus (v. 16) and join with Him in His work of making all things new (v. 18). We strive to increase in righteousness, knowing that eternal righteousness—the righteousness of Jesus—will be ours forever with Him (v. 21).

Glimpses of glory, clearly seen and regularly considered, can embolden our faith and heighten our anticipation at the joy which is yet to come.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Glimpses of glory, clearly seen and regularly considered” are only made possible by the things we know.
What do we know? We know:
That if our earthly house, this tent, our mortal body,
is destroyed, which it will be, in death,
we have a building from God, an immortal house,
not made with hands—no bricks, mortar, or humanity needed—
but an eternal tent, living, thriving, and rejoicing in the heavens with God (2 Cor. 5.1).
A tent that will flourish (Prov. 14.11).

What else do we know? We know, as Job did, that:
“My Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth;
and after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
that in my flesh I shall see God,
Whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another” (Job 19.25-27).

And we know, as Jesus told us, about what He is preparing for us:
A place. A special place for each one of us. And Jesus will return to take us there.
If it were not so, He would have told us. But why is He doing this for us?
Because, as He said, “That where I AM, there you may be also” (Jn. 14.1-4).

Is there anything else that we know? We, like Paul, know:
In Whom we believe, and we too, are persuaded that God is very able to bring all this to fruition (2 Tim. 1.12). This knowledge does, most certainly, “embolden our faith and heighten our anticipation at the joy which is yet to come.”

“And we know” conclusively “that the Son of God has come
and has given us an understanding,
that we may know Him who is true;
and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ.
This is the true God and eternal life” (1 Jn. 5.20).

Daily glimpse this glory and your outlook will be forever changed.

For reflection
1. How will you glimpse the glory of the Lord today?

2. What opportunities to live for God’s glory do you expect to have today?

3. Whom will you encourage to glimpse the glory of the Lord today?

The believer not only is well assured by faith that there is another and a happy life after this is ended, but he has good hope, through grace, of heaven as a dwelling-place, a resting-place, a hiding-place. In our Father’s house there are many mansions, whose Builder and Maker is God. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 2 Corinthians 5.1-8

Pray Psalm 27.7-14.
Seek the radiant face of our Lord Jesus Christ and call on Him to help you live in and for His glory today.

Sing Psalm 27.7-14.
(St. Denio: Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise)
Hear, LORD, when we cry and be gracious, we pray!
LORD, do not deny us Your favor this day!
Our help, our salvation, though others may fall,
preserve our good station when on You we call.

LORD, teach us; LORD, lead us because of our foes!
Hear, LORD, when we plead for release from their woes.
Had we not believed all Your goodness to see,
our heart sorely grieved and in turmoil would be.

Wait, wait on the LORD; persevere in His grace.
Hold fast to His Word; seek His radiant face.
Be strong, set your heart to abide in His Word;
His grace He imparts; therefore, wait on the LORD.

T. M. and Susie Moore 

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.