Assurance of The Resurrection

II Corinthians 5:1–9
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In this passage we find that heaven was not simply a destination for Paul; it was also a motivation.  He was anxiously waiting for the day when he would fully participate in the abundant life promised in heaven.  He used a tent or earthly house as a picture of our present earthly bodies (v. 1). A tent is a weak, temporary dwelling without much beauty; but our glorified body will be eternal, beautiful, and never show signs of weakness or decay (Philippines 3:20-21). In contrast to the old body, the new body is pictured as a permanent dwelling. 

He reminds the Corinthians that the world and its present sufferings are passing away (vv. 2-6). What is seen (the material) is temporary, but what is unseen (the spirit­ual) is eternal. No wonder Paul could endure suffering without wavering. His gaze was firmly focused by faith on the Savior and on his heavenly home; not on the seen but on the unseen (v. 7). To live this way is to live by faith and not by sight. Paul had a confident faith that conquered fear, and a future hope that was both a destination and a motiva­tion.  Paul was not afraid to die, because he was confident of spending eternity with Christ. Every believer in Jesus Christ has these same marvelous possessions.

Application

In our daily walk of life, what does it mean to walk by faith and not by sight? Lord, help me to think of examples our family has experienced of walking by faith!