Only Temporary!

I enjoyed about a six mile hike yesterday morning across a peninsula along the Strait of Juan deFuca. It is the second hike I have taken recently with a man who works where my wife is a med-aide. Though we originally had planned a nineteen mile hike a bit further from home, we decided on a less strenuous one since he had not been feeling well up to a couple days ago. Though I was ready to journey farther, it was still nice being out among the trees. It also makes me LOOK FORWARD all the more to next month when we hope to set up our tent somewhere to relax for a week. I enjoy tent camping, but I also LOOK FORWARD to returning home. I think that is what is nice about tent camping; we know living without some of the conveniences of home is only temporary. Perhaps if the tent was our permanent home it would not be quite as enjoyable, especially with the moisture we get in the Northwest part of the United States. However, that rain is what keeps our area so lush and green.

Before I headed out for yesterday's hike, part of my morning reading for the day was the fifth chapter of Paul's second letter to the church at Corinth. In that chapter Paul mentioned a tent and also something to which he LOOKED FORWARD. Though Paul was a tentmaker by trade, it was not that kind of tent he had in mind.

We read. . .
"(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," ( 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 ESV)

The tent Paul referred to was the flesh; our bodies. It is only a temporary dwelling while we journey here on earth. In the flesh we sometimes groan because of the challenges we face. However, the time will come when that tent is left behind for a Heavenly dwelling.

Paul went on to state. . .
"(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." ( 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 ESV)

Life can be intense. (Yes, pun intended) However, LOOKING FORWARD to being at home with Jesus encourages us to press on now as we seek to please Him in the manner in which we live our lives. Though there is much we may enjoy in this life, the grander things are yet to come. When we do face the challenges, let us remember we are not home yet. Therefore, "always [be] of good courage."

Have a great day PRESSING ON WITH THE HEART TOWARD HOME!
Carl

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