Text: 2Corinthians 5: 1,2a
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,
Many of you know that Karen and I made a trip down to Austin, Texas last month. We didn’t go there to visit. We went there to look for a house to purchase. And not for now, but for some years from now when we retire, Lord willing.
Our trip was blessed. We did find a house and we did purchase it. And we both are very pleased with how it all went. Though at times we’re not quite sure what we bought. Where was that laundry room again?
Well these last few weeks something has occurred to me. Some amazing parallels between our house in Texas and another one that is ours by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. A house that is pictured in our text. And here we all can say:
WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEW HOME
Paul uses a word here that well describes this life. He speaks of a tent. Some people live their lives in tents. You put it up for a time, then take it down and put it up somewhere else. That’s a good picture of our lives. I think about my life to this point. Every place we have lived, it was only for a time. In the Coast Guard, we knew how many years we would stay before being transferred somewhere else. In college and Seminary, we knew it was only for a time until we graduated. Then serving churches in New Mexico and Minnesota and now here, we might get busy with our lives, our children, our ministry. But then there would come the reminders. Like one just recently. A pastor friend announced early his year, I’m retiring the summer of 2014. Wait a second. You’re not that old. We’re not that old. We were in college together. Another reminder. Our life here and now is only for a time. It’s like a tent we put up and take down and put up somewhere else.
Yet this life is like a tent in a much more profound way. The way that Paul describes here: Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed… It’s a terrible fact of life. One day the tent of this body and this life will come down and stay down. We will die. And it’s sad. It’s tragic in more ways than one. For we know that death is result of sin. Sin that entered our world through the lives of our first parents. And sin that shows itself in so many ways in our own lives. Just take a trip through the 10 Commandments and every one points an accusing finger at our guilt. The lust of our eyes, the pride that can see everyone else’s fault but my own, the lack of love for God and those around us. Sin. So this tent will come down.
And if that’s all God’s Word had to say to us, it would be so sad. We would have no hope beyond the grave. But we do. We have great hope in Christ. So now Karen and I and each of us can look forward to our new home.
Let me tell you something about our house in Texas. It’s paid for. Did you hear those sweet words. It’s paid for. No mortgage. Nothing owed except this: a debt of gratitude to my mom and dad who were determined to leave something for my sister and me. Every last dollar spent on that house came from them, not us. Karen and I could never have paid for it ourselves. Only because of my mom and dad, do we get to look forward to our new home.
Well think about it. You too have a new home paid for by another. …we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Of course, some people foolishly think they could do something to earn that or deserve it. But the truth is, there is no way we could ever deserve it. It’s a gift of God’s grace. But it didn’t come with out cost just like that house in Texas. My parents had to work over many years to earn what they gave us. Well think of what your God was willing to do for you so you could have this hope for when your tent comes down. Look at the cross and see the price he was willing to pay for you. Not a price of dollars and cents but a price that required the life of God’s own Son, to set you free. He paid that price to give you this hope. This house, this home paid for by another. This home, we get to look forward when this tent comes down. And it’s quite a place! Quite a place indeed.
There’s much we could say about our little place in Texas. Actually it’s not in Austin but just north of Austin in a town called Round Rock. There’s much we could say about our little place. There’s lots of room for family and company to stay and visit. There’s room for someone to stay like a refugee fleeing persecution. There’s room for someone to stay like a pregnant girl kicked out of her house. It’s quite the place.
There’s a nice updated kitchen for Karen to make those cakes and pies. There’s even a bike path behind the house for your pastor to take another spill. And maybe there’s even enough room for some bees. I’m not sure yet. But it’s quite the place.
Yet like everything else made by human hands, things will break. Things will wear out and need to be fixed. And of course our life there will be only for a time until this tent comes down.
But that’s ok. And here’s why. Our Lord Jesus Christ has ascended back to heaven. Here he had come as our brother. And as our brother, he paid for our sins with his precious blood. He won our forgiveness and then rose from his grave to show us it’s true. Then he ascended back to heaven, mission accomplished. Well before he did, he made this promise. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
I haven’t been there. But I’ve heard it’s quite a place. I’ve heard it in the inspired words of St Paul who said I desire to depart and be with Christ which is better by far. I’ve heard it’s quite a place in the words of a dear sister in Christ on her death bed. She said to me. Pastor, it’s beautiful. I think there God in his mercy was giving her a foretaste of what was to come. For it’s quite a place our Lord has prepared for us. Not a tent, but an eternal house. And not a house that will ever know the kinds of things our homes might see today. No sadness, no suffering, no strife, no depression, no tears, but joy. Yes, Joy that this world often steals. But no more. Not in that house. Not in that home. For it’s quite the place. And we wait now to enjoy it.
It’s kind of a strange feeling. What do you normally do when you buy or rent a place? You move in. But not us. We now wait. We wait to live there. How long? We can’t really say. We have an idea. But for now, we wait to enjoy that home.
But who’s to say, what we will be find when the wait is over? Who’s to say what we will find when we move there? Will the neighbors be friendly? Will we say to ourselves, it sure is hot here in Texas. And for that matter, what will this life bring when we get there? It’s still life in a tent, this body which doesn’t get younger.
But always we have this, wherever we are. We look forward to our new home. Not in Texas. Not here in California. But with the Lord. And when we move there, there’s no possibility that we will be disappointed. For finally, at long last, we will be home. What home was meant to be.
So Paul says, we groan. In our hearts, underneath it all, we groan. We groan like this world does as it yearns to be free from its bondage to death and decay. We groan for that time when we will be truly free. For that home that Jesus gives us the right to look forward to. We wait now to enjoy it.
But don’t misunderstand. We don’t sit and wait. As God’s people, he has a purpose for every one of us. You see, this world can be such a dark place. So many people are lost in that darkness. So many people lie broken in that darkness. And many don’t even know it. And once we were darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. In fact Jesus says, You are the light of the world.
So what does Jesus want us to do with this light? Remember what we sang as kids. This little gospel light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little gospel light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine in your kindness to others. Let it shine as you go about your work. Let it shine and then be ready to tell them. Be ready to tell them about your Savior and your new home. Amen.