Recently as I was reading in the fifth chapter of 2nd Corinthians, I was deeply touched in my spirit. I have read this chapter many times, but this time I was impressed to go back through the chapter and make some notes.
Paul is speaking about our body and calling it our earthly tent. This is another way of saying that life is very temporal.
In James 4:14, we read: “For what is life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” NKJV
In this life, we grow weary in our present bodies. We get tired, and we need times of respite and rest. Most importantly, we need times of refreshing in the Presence of the Lord. Many times I have been exhausted when I have gone to church, but after entering into praise and worship and into His Presence, I was greatly refreshed and revived. I no longer felt tired. Now, just imagine if coming into His Presence can refresh us, how much more when we someday will put on our heavenly body, and will be in His Presence forever.
We experience life in our physical bodies when we are born. And, truly, the miracle of birth is life. However, when we are born again, we begin to experience a greater depth of life when the Divine Nature of the Lord Jesus Christ infuses us and begins changing us from Glory to Glory! But, there is a day coming when we will exchange our earthly body for our heavenly body!
In 2 Corinthians 5:1, Paul relates that our eternal body is made by God Himself. He goes on to say in verse 3 that we will not be spirits without bodies. And then, in verse 6 he states; “as long as we live in these earthly bodies, we are not at home with the Lord.”
Paul and the early church were looking forward to the day when they would be freed from their earthly bodies. They did not fear death, for they knew so well that to be absent from the body was to be present with the Lord. He went on to say that whether we are here in this body or away from this body; our goal is to please the Lord. Paul was faithful to his calling. As I read this, I began to sense a stirring within my heart to be more faithful in sharing the Gospel with others.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5: 11-12, “Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart.” (NLT)
Paul’s desire was that the believers at Corinth would not be puffed up, but that they would be humble. By example he wanted to impart this to them. He wanted their lives to bring glory to God. He was motivated by the love of God. Paul had died to his old life. His heart was to do the will of God and to finish the race. He goes on to say in verse 15, “Christ died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.” NLT
Paul no longer evaluated others from a human point of view. He went on to remind them that at one time they had thought of Christ merely from a human point of view, but now they knew him much differently. They had grown in the Grace and Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they knew Him by the Spirit and were one with Him. He now had a great burden to see people saved and reconciled to God.
In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul goes on to say, “We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” NKJV
God has given us the ministry of reconciliation as well! How wonderful and blessed to be used by the Lord to lead others to Christ and see them become new creatures in Christ Jesus! As the darkness increases upon the earth, I am sensing a greater urgency to share Christ with others. We need to have the fervency and the dedication in our hearts that the Apostle Paul had when he wrote to the church at Corinth.
In this hour of great turmoil upon the whole earth, God is arising in His People. The stirring within our hearts is His Holy Spirit preparing us for the Mighty move of God that is now beginning and yet shall increase. We must be faithful to what God requires of each of us. It is harvest time! God is at work and is preparing the Body of Christ to work with Him. We too, are Ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Isaiah 40:5 – “And the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” KJV
Numbers 14:21- “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the Glory of the Lord!” KJV
