“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. So, we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-7, NRSV).
The human body is a marvel of God’s handiwork. The blood vessels in just one person could circumnavigate the earth two and a-half times if they were placed end to end. The human nose can detect up to one trillion types of smells. My father used to claim that my mother had the ears of an elephant. She could hear my brother and me getting into trouble from a mile away.
We humans have a love-hate relationship with our bodies though. On the one hand, we bathe them, clothe them, and put sweet fragrances on them. On the other hand, we loathe ourselves whenever we catch our image in front of a full-length mirror or find a new wrinkle or discover a pimple that should have its own tax ID number.
The Apostle Paul had a fascination with the human body. Paul frequently cited the body in the two Scriptural letters he wrote to the Corinthian church. In today’s passage, Paul likens the body to a tent. I realize that this metaphor is not a flattering comparison. Don’t get me wrong. Paul places a high value on the body, yet he also makes it clear that this canvas of ours has its limitations. For one thing, our earthly bodies are temporary structures and are not designed to last forever. What’s more, our bodies limit us from fully experiencing the presence of God. In Paul’s words, “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Living by faith is not an easy task these days. Christians are teased more often for their beliefs and values in a God who cannot be seen. Such a response is understandable though. People make fun of those things they do not understand.
For my part, I can’t imagine living life apart from my faith in Jesus. I may not be able to see Jesus directly, but I do sense his presence within the deepest reaches of my being. Apart from the forgiveness he offers, I would be mired in a bog of regret. Were it not for the courage and inner peace I receive from his Spirit, many of the challenges I face would seem insurmountable. If I did not have Jesus’ assurance of a future with him, the specter of death would haunt me to the end. In short, I would not want to live in this world absent from the faith I have discovered in Christ, and frankly, I could care less were anyone to laugh at me. Besides, living to please just this One Person seems to me much less complicated than trying to please everyone.
Prayer
Come, Lord Jesus, increase my capacity to trust you more. I welcome you to open the eyes of my heart in order that I may know you more fully, love you more affectionately, and live for you more completely. Amen.