Temporary

"For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:1-8).

As I watch myself and so many Christians struggle against overwhelming trials and tribulations, I remind myself that we struggle on earth because this is not our home. We are lost foreigners with our true citizenship in Heaven ("For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20). 2 Corinthians 5 presents a comparison between the temporary "tents" we reside in on earth and the lure of our eternal Home.

If asked today whether we would prefer living in a tent or a building, how would we reply? There are few, including myself, who would long to reside in a tent. Tents are temporary, they leak and break, and they are easily moved. Tents are not known for being comfortable and permanent. Conversely, buildings are permanent, not easily shaken and they offer the comforts of home that many of us experience. Paul uses this passage of Scripture to compare the body to our permanent homes in Heaven. There just is no comparison, is there?

I don't know about you, but my "tent" is not worthy of an overnight camp-out in my backyard. It is being destroyed and ravaged by cancer. Paul tells us that we "groan" in our "tents". As long as we reside in our "tents", we are "absent from the Lord" and our Heavenly destination. No wonder this life is so challenging.

Verse 8 of this passage states: ".....to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." I am convinced we struggle too much to maintain these earthly tents. People dread death - even Christians. Yet, when we remind ourselves of this verse, and know that once we are dead (aka absent from the body) that we are going to be present with the Lord, we can do no less than rejoice. Everyday we need to remind ourselves of this fact and then death will lose its sting and will pale in comparison to the promise of eternal life.

Lately, the Mercy Me song "Only Temporary" has been a favorite and a lyrical reminder of the teachings of this Scripture.

Don't let the situation get to you
This is not a hill worth dying on
Don't let these circumstances tear your heart in two
Soon enough this chapter will be gone

What's insurmountable today
Will surely one day fade away

CHORUS:
There's a reason why this world just don't feel right
Cause we are strangers who are simply passing by
In light of all eternity
It's only temporary

This place was never meant to be my home
Not comfortable in my own skin
Which may explain some of those days I feel alone
Standing on the outside looking in

But you're not hearing me complain
Cause I'm already on my way

This place was never meant to be my home
Not comfortable in my own skin

Link to the the music video for this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZhCmvOhlKs

One of my life verses has been 2 Corinthians 4:16: 18: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal".

No matter the depth of our pain and suffering and heartache today, we are assured that these are temporary afflictions. Don't give up - on yourself or on God. Don't doubt that you can wade through your difficulties. Don't forget that despite the intensity or long lasting of our heartaches, that they are "only temporary".