For 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.
That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.
But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later we’ll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what’s coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad.
That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It’s no light thing to know that we’ll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That’s why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. 2 Corinthians 5:1-11 The Message
What is the assured hope? Our true home. This is what is coming for each of us faithful obedient disciples of Christ. This IS why we have ‘good cheer’ and have endurance when the race is tough and painful. This is why we can tap into the needed perseverance in the moment that seems so crushing to us. It IS Jesus in us through the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit. This is WHY regardless of the however the miserable the conditions are …everyone should be focused on ‘pleasing God’ in the moment and as a goal.
Jesus is our SOURCE! Jesus should be our life… in everything. Jesus IS the reason. What is Jesus asking you to do? Make disciples. Baptize them. Teach them.
This is the calling of EVERY follower of Christ. It isn’t complicated. The steps are clearly stated. How we go about each step should be by direction of the Holy Spirit. The steps should be relational NOT religious or institutional. This IS our purpose while we are HERE on earth. We ARE His reach to all those around us. So letting Him lead us in the way we should go, asking for His words in what we should say, and when we should do all these things is important. We need to learn to follow His lead / path, rather than our own.
Oh what a homecoming we have in store for us!! It really is our blessed hope! To be with all those family members who have gone before us – and the reunion we will ALL have… with Jesus and each other! This is the wonderful truth and our hope (not wishful thinking but a certain knowing).
So let us be about the divine appointments He has for us THIS day. Pray WITH the Holy Spirit and ask for His agenda for you this day… and then do it… with joy! Wherever we are, and whatever we are doing … let it be with Him.