Earnestly Desiring

By Larry R. Ping II

After Paul wrote about our physical bodies dissolving and the inheritance of a building of God, Paul penned "For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven" (II Corinthians 5:2). That is, Christians desire greatly to rid themselves of these physical bodies and adorn themselves with our heavenly, spiritual bodies. Can you say this? Do you say this? Why did Paul say this?

Because This Life Has Its Burdens. Paul said in II Corinthians 5:4 "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened…" There is no doubt, this life has its share of trials, tribulations, temptations and troubles. After a while, and after piling up, it gets very tiresome and troublesome. We look forward to a time when these things are not present, but have passed away (Revelation 21:4).

Because We Want To Be With The Lord. While we are in this physical body, "we are absent from the Lord" (II Corinthians 5:6). What a blessing it will be to spend eternity with our Lord Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father! Paul said that he was having difficulty trying to make a decision, to live or to die. To die meant to "be with Christ" (Philippians 1:23).

While we are in this physical body, we must "walk by faith, not by sight" (II Corinthians 5:7). While we are in these physical bodes, we must:

Labor, Or Work. Getting to heaven is not going to be easy. If we want to be "accepted of him," we must "labor" at it (II Corinthians 5:9). The gate leading to eternal life, we must "find" (Matthew 7:14). Are you willing to do the necessary work to see the Lord?

Realize We Will See Christ As A Judge. How we have lived in this "body" will be judged, "whether it be good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10). So, how have you lived in this physical body? Is your desire to go to heaven strong enough to cause you to work the way you should? Going through the motions will not be enough. Do you truly believe this? I hope so!