"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. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2 Corinthians 5:1-5)I've been thinking a lot lately about this one particular passage of Paul's as I watch my grandparents get frail and as I feel my own body get aches and pains in places and ways I never experienced before. Our bodies, as we know them, are meant for temporary living on this earth. They are tents, breaking down through time, but good for withstanding the forces of this world. We endure hardship and pain, storms and rain; we fall down and get up again, in our earthly tents of cells and bone. I long for a body that does not break down, as I look at my grandfather, struggling with cancer, and long for his body to be the same. I yearn for a body that is eternal and bulletproof, just like Paul did. And I know that I will one day receive that body. Something tells me it's gonna look an awfully lot like the one I have now, save for a number of nicks and scratches. Oh, and it will be unbreakable. God has promised. And He isn't in the habit of breaking His promises.
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