This is not a lecture on verbs, but rather a sad tale of famous tent fails. 

There was the time I bought a used army tent.  It was nice and roomy, but it poured on our first outing, and we suffered several scenic waterfalls from the comfort of our sleeping bags.

Then there was the time I unpacked our tent and was overcome with a stench that took my breath away.  The tent was packed away the last time we used it, while it was still damp.   Monstrous mold and mildew became its new residents.

Most memorable was the fall trip we made to Arkansas.  A fierce storm blew in that night.  We were cowering in our sleeping bags, praying that the branches above us would remain on the trees. 

That’s when a humongous gust of wind collapsed the soaking tent upon us.  It grabbed us as we groped our way out.

All of our clothes and sleepings bags were left underwater in the tent, so we sat in our soggy pajamas, in the car, and shivered the rest of the night. 

Tents can mean trouble, which is why the apostle Paul compared the human body to a tent. In 2 Corinthians 5:1 he wrote, “For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God.”

Why would Paul compare our bodies to tents?  Well, a tent is a temporary dwelling – not designed for the long haul.  A tent offers very little protection to the one who lives in it and a tent quickly deteriorates – it fades, and tears, and leaks and rips.

That’s exactly the way that Paul described our bodies – as being progressively dismantled.  And don’t I know it.  At this stage of life, I feel like I am playing health issue Wack-a-mole.  Smack one malady down and another one pops up somewhere else.

And this is something to groan about says Paul, “For in this earthly house we groan, because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed, after we have put on our heavenly house, we will not be found naked. For we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. – 5:2-4

But one day we will trade up.  Verse 1 reminds us that “we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.”

Here Paul described the resurrection body that is to be given to all who belong to Christ. He compared it to a building – a dwelling far more durable and comfortable than a tent.

We usually enjoyed our camping outings, but after a couple days, we were really glad to tear the tent down and head for home.

This eternal dwelling is guaranteed to those who know Him.  Paul wrote, “Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.” – 5:5

When we came to faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit came to indwell us.  He took up residence within us.  Paul calls this arrangement a “down-payment”- a security deposit. It means that God will deliver on the promise of our new eternal home in the heaven. 

A diamond engagement ring on the hand of a woman is a pledge of the marriage to come.  In the same way, God places His eternal Spirit in us, as a token of His love and commitment.  

So, this is great news.  Though my ratty tent-of-a-body is discombobulating, my durable, eternal, blissful home is waiting for occupancy.  Then I will have a face without wrinkles and an elbow without pain. I’ll have a brain that won’t be clouded with confusion.   Great things are ahead!

I think I’ll celebrate by giving up tent camping for good.

A PRAYER: Lord hold us together until that time we behold You

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you always

Scripture passages are from the NETBible®