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AN EARTHLY TABERNACLE
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29
2 Corinthians 5:1-8
Hebrews 9:11
 
“… our earthly house
of this tabernacle …”
 
AN EARTHLY TABERNACLE
 
The passage today plays on the two words “house” (oikia) and “tabernacle” (skēnos). “Tabernacle” refers to a tent, and thus a temporal abode. On the other hand, the term “house” is a general term of residence that has a sense of permanency.
 
Our body in this world, our earthly house, is described to be simply a tabernacle. In other words, this body of ours is but temporal. It is a body which is perishing, and one in which we must soon put off. On the other hand, a permanent house awaits us which is not made by hands. This permanent house is none other than the incorruptible body which we will be clothed with.
 
The question is, will you be clothed with such a permanent house? Only if you repent of your sins and believe in Christ!
 
Sadly, many in the world place undue emphasis on the temporal body and world. This was the lament of Dr S H Tow in his autobiography Footprints in the Sands of Time using this illustration:
 
“A young lady, receiving a priceless diamond ring, exclaimed to her young man, “Dearest, thank you for the lovely box! I promise to look after it with utmost care so that no harm or loss will come to it!” Ridiculous, you say. So we all agree. Yet it is a picture of time-bound men and women, young people lavishing everything on their perishing bodies, without a thought for their priceless souls. Before they realise it, the day of judgement will have dawned.”
 
Beloved, this body of ours will one day perish. On the other hand, the soul of man is eternal. When the roll is called, where will you be? We pray it will not be in the lake of fire, eternally separated from the Lord, but forever with the Lord, clothed with a house which will never be taken away again.
 
THOUGHT: My earthly body is perishing day by day.
PRAYER: Father, help me to focus on the eternal.

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