So we are always confident,
knowing that
while we are at home in the body
we are absent from the Lord.
(2 Corinthians 5:6)
LORD Jesus, we praise You, for You are mighty to save. Forgive us, O God, we pray, whenever we seek the many temporal things that could be gone tomorrow. Forbid it, LORD, that we should lay up for ourselves treasures on earth instead of treasures in heaven. Guide us to become good stewards of what You have so graciously and abundantly given to us. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray. Amen.
It all began two years ago (please see my blog post Jehovah-Jireh, Provider and Helper). We had to move out of what we were able to call “Our Home” and into the maisonette we are living in right now. This dwelling place is a real challenge to live in.
We receive our mail to a PO Box, so I do not often check the mailbox at the house. Today I did, and there was a postcard from Germany inside of it. As I looked at the picture (The Zugspitze) I got overwhelmed by it, and began to cry.
In a few days, we will be living in Ireland for 13 years, but over the next 6–9 months we are getting ready to move back to Germany. This is not because we want to, but we will have to. There was no possibility for us to get a good mortgage, so we looked into renting another place. We did not find anything (in all of Ireland) affordable that would also allow dogs. If we continue to stay in Ireland, we will eventually have to live off our savings. This is something we are not willing to do—not even for Ireland.
It was hard to start all over again, here in Ireland, but the LORD has led the way. Hallelujah! With no place to move back to (we sold our apartment 13 years ago), we will, once again, trust in God to lead us.
One thing the LORD keeps reminding me of over and over again, especially during these past two challenging years, is, that there is no “forever” home on earth. No matter if we are renting a home, or if we have been fortunate enough to buy a home, one day it will all be gone.
What is true about our homes, is also true about our bodies. We can be confident, that one day we will be leaving our earthly vessel. The question is, will we be ready to move to our new destination then?
Today’s verse is addressed to us Christians. It reminds us that as long as we are living on the earth (at home in the body) we are absent from the LORD. This is sad in a way, isn’t it? We can read “between the lines” though, knowing that once we are no longer home in this body we will no longer be absent from the LORD. And so forever we will be with Him who is mighty to save—save us from our sins and save us from whatever is going on in our life. Hallelujah!
Don’t despair, but focus on eternal life today.