Absent from the body, present with the Lord

II Corinthians 5:1,8 (NLT)

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands…Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 

Janelle Green published a book in 2008 entitled This Earthly Tent (Xulon Press, 2008), based on I Corinthians 5:1.  She writes about her life after being struck with multiple sclerosis in 1975 when she was a young wife and mother.  While her earthly tent—her physical body—kept deteriorating, she fought to maintain a positive attitude.  She wrote the book to give hope to others that the grace and strength of God can provide those with damaged tents an active, giving, and caring life with great optimism that better days are ahead because this is what God promises.

Paul was a tentmaker by trade and so made the analogy between a tent and physical life.  Studies have shown that the body grows until about age 20 and then from that age until you die, the body deteriorates.  Every component of our bodies deteriorates over time after age 20---all our senses weaken (e.g. need for eyeglasses, hearing aids), muscles lose stamina, joints become weak, bones soften, the heart becomes more frail, the brain loses activity, hair starts graying and falling out, all cells lose metabolic efficiency, etc.).  Sure, we humans do all we can to retard the deterioration process, some smart (exercise, right eating, skin care, alleviating stress, etc.) and some ridiculous (phony anti-aging products, plastic surgery, massive Botox® treatments, spending enormous amounts of money at health spas, etc.).

No matter what you try to do, you live in an earthly tent that will keep deteriorating until it is destroyed.  Plus, for so many people, like Janelle Green, our earthly tents can become severely damaged, even at a young age; yet people still live in them for years.  Think of loved ones and others you know who are handicapped, blind, deformed, deal with chronic pain and hundreds of other physical maladies that affect these temporary perishable tents.  Think about the perspective these people have (and you never know if/when you might be in the same position?) and why this quote from Helen Keller is so profound: “Death … is no more than passing from one room into another. But there’s a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see.”     

A tent is a temporary structure.  The word “tent” was first mentioned in Genesis 4:20 and Old Testament heroes like Noah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Moses and the Israelites, etc. lived in tents.  Not only are tents temporary structures as our bodies are, but we as Christian people are like tents in that we are sojourners (I Peter 2:11) while on this earth.  We are on a journey to our eventual home, heaven. Take comfort in the reality that your tent body deteriorates for a purpose, that you are headed for a much better place, that when you die, you will be home with the Lord. Home is the place where you belong, where you find true love, shelter, security, fellowship, and acceptance.  Why wouldn’t you rather be where your true home is?