I am so thankful for the Lord’s continued faithfulness in my life. I am so rundown from being sick, work craziness, and family drama. However, the Lord has been here with me every step of the way; giving me confidence and peace that He is in control and that I have nothing to worry about as I pursue Him.
6 So then, we are always full of good and hopeful and confident courage; we know that while we are at home in the body, we are abroad from the home with the Lord [that is promised us]. 7 For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance. 8 [Yes] we have confident and hopeful courage and are pleased rather to be away from home out of the body and be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing]. 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 [AMP]
Today’s reading reinforced the little blurb I said above. I am here in this earthly tent (earthly body) but I have a hope in the eternal one. While I am here on this earth I must walk by Faith, not by sight or appearance…otherwise, I will be tempted into discouragement, worry, or even depression. So, just as verse 6 says above, I remain hopeful with confident courage because even though I am here in this earthly body I realize that I am on a trip abroad from my real home with the Lord.
The plan to stay in this good state is clearly stated in verse 9, “Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him.” Even though we are away in body from the Lord, we are to be ambitious and striving to please God…earnestly.
EARNESTLY: with sincere and intense conviction; seriously
Paul then explains why this is so important -> even as Christians we will all stand before the judgement seat of Christ to hear the good and the bad of what we accomplished while here on earth. This amazing part of this part of the story is, when the ‘bad’ is totaled, it will be Jesus Himself Who steps forward and says “I have already paid the price for your sin which you received when you put your faith and trust in Me as your Savior. Welcome to my Kingdom!”