1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

2 For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,

3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.

4 For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life.

5 And it is God who has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.

6 Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.

7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

8 We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

9 So we aspire to please Him, whether we are at home in this body or away from it.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.

— 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

After God’s final judgment, believers will enter the glorious new heaven and new earth, freed forever from sin’s influence. We don’t know if God will totally re-create the heavens and earth or regenerate them to prepare a place for His people yet. No matter how God accomplishes this, the certain consummation of His eternal plan gives believers hope for today and forever. When a believer dies, his/her soul — the very person and personality — immediately enters Gods presence. However, believers still await their final eternal home, resurrection bodies, and the coming of the new heaven and earth. God’s people will dwell with Him in a perfect, sinless environment — their eternal home.

To fail to believe the truth about the new heaven and new earth means anticipating nothing beyond this life and eventual death. Many people assume almost everyone makes it heaven, not realizing the gravity of their sin and the necessity of salvation through Christ. Only those who look to Jesus, the Lamb of God, for salvation will enter the sinless place God has prepared. But for those who receive Christ, this world’s peril will one day end. God will usher in His glorious kingdom, and eternity’s praises will begin!