Life in a Tent – Longing for Our Eternal Home
2 Corinthians 5:1–10
Have you ever been camping? At first, a tent feels adventurous — thin walls, the smell of canvas, the night sounds around you, and the beauty of nature nearby. It holds appeal because it is temporary. But after a while, any lengthy period of time, it becomes uncomfortable. You begin to long for home — a place that is solid, permanent, and secure.
Paul says our bodies are like tents — temporary, fragile, and not meant to last forever. He writes, “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven” (2 Cor 5:1).
This is both a comfort and a challenge. A comfort, because it reminds us that sickness, weakness, and even death are not the end. This body is tent-like. For the Christian, there is a permanent home, a resurrection body, an eternity with Christ. But it is also a challenge: are we living today in light of eternity, or are we clinging too tightly to the tent?
Practical Application:
If you are elderly or unwell, take heart — your groaning is a longing for glory.
If you are young, don’t live as if the tent will last forever. Build your life on what endures.
Each of us should ask: “Am I living for what will matter when I stand before Christ?”
Paul reminds us that one day we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ — not to be condemned, but to give an account. That perspective gives courage to live faithfully now.
Coming next: If our dwelling is temporary, what then motivates us to live with purpose? In the next blog reflection, we’ll explore how the love of Christ compels us.