Matters of Faith: Weekly Column: It Still Requires Maintenance!

 

It Still Requires Maintenance!

By Reverend J. Loren Russell

 

2 Corinthians 5:4-7 (CEV)

These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don't do this just because we want to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die.  God is the one who makes all this possible. He has given us his Spirit to make us certain he will do it. So always be cheerful! As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord. But we live by faith, not by what we see.”

 

‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬In this chapter, Paul is contrasting the temporary and fragile tents we use while we are in the land of the dying (that’s what I call life since everyone alive will eventually die) and the buildings we will receive when we pass from death to life. Those bodies will never grow old, get sick, or die.

 

Paul talks about groaning, being frustrated, and burdened by the experience of being in these bodies. He says our frustrations are a direct result of our being in these temporary tents, that we have a yearning for those eternal bodies that never die. Then he draws a fine line; he says the indwelling Spirit of God is a down payment on the cost of that new body in eternity, He writes, He has given us his Spirit to make us certain he will do it. Paul is saying, if there is no indwelling of the Holy Spirit in an individual, there will be no new building for them.

 

Verse seven says, “But we live by faith, not by what we see.” The New King James Version translate that verse, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” The body Paul is referring to won’t be a reality until a transition has taken place that takes us from time to eternity. But we have the assurance of receiving it by the down payment of the Holy Spirit. Until then, we must maintain these earthly tents until we transition and receive our eternal building. To do anything less would be tantamount to belittling the promise the Lord made to us.

 

What we consume, how we exercise, what we read, the places we go, how we cultivate our mentality, our physiological, and spiritual sides of our existence all determine the level of management we are providing to the tent. This is the evidence that we walk by faith and not by sight. Jesus told His disciples in Luke 16:10-11, “Anyone who can be trusted in little matters can also be trusted in important matters. But anyone who is dishonest in little matters will be dishonest in important matters. If you cannot be trusted with this wicked wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?”

 

Even though the tent is temporary, it still requires maintenance!

 

Be Blessed!

 

Rev. J. Loren Russell is an associate minister at Goodwill Baptist Church and is the spiritual leader of both LaGree Baptist Church and the Evangelical Church of God, all in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting (718-328-8096), and hosts “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Monday nights from 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook Live. Be sure to Friend “Matters of Faith” on YouTube and email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The eBook at www.smash words.com/books/view/993177.