EmmDev 2016-08-17 [Treasure in Clay Pots (2Cor)] Heavenly Minded

Heavenly Minded

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. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 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. 5 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.      (2Corinthians5:1-5)

We've all heard the criticism: "He/She is so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly use." This is usually said of someone whose spirituality is so devotional and otherworldly that they have disassociated themselves from reality and the work God might have for them while they're on earth.

The criticism is valid - we don't disappear and go to heaven when we give our hearts to Jesus - He wants us to spread His Word and share His love in a world that desperately needs to return to Him.

So we have work to do in this world, but the flip-side is also important: While we have a lot to do in this world, this world is not our home.

Throughout Paul's Corinthian letters he uses the analogy of the pilgrim/camper/traveller. We're passing through this world. We don't build buildings - we pitch tents.

The passage we are looking at today explores this idea of being campers in this world. We don't hammer in our tent pegs too deeply. We don't get too caught up in this world and its trappings:

• Our security doesn't lie in earthly buildings - but in our heavenly home.
• We don't groan and long for earthly accolades and status symbols which are so often associated with what we wear. We know we will be clothed in white robes dipped in the blood of Christ and this status - being forgiven - is the only one that really matters. And we'll never be found naked, because Jesus' blood never fails.
• Our ambitions (groaning) are not for things of this world, but that the glory of heaven may "swallow up" the brokenness of this world. This is the same as praying "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
• God has designed us for this eternal life and we function best when our hearts and minds are geared toward this purpose and God gives us His Holy Spirit who is the One behind our longing wistfulness for the world to be a better place.

We're travellers longing for HOME!
We haven't been there yet, but we know what it's like because we know Jesus.

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