Paul spoke in Romans 8 of his hope of the future glory which will be revealed in us as children of God. Paul’s reflections was that the sufferings, trials and disappointments that we experience here on earth, are nothing to be compared to what we will experience when we are transformed into the image of God. We are made in the image of God but while on earth, we live in the flesh. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).
Like Jesus during his time on earth, we are spirit beings that are housed in earthly vessels of flesh and blood. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5, that if this earthly ‘tent’ or body is destroyed, that we have another building or body not made with human hands. “For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling” (2 Corinthians 5:2). Paul had constant conflicts between being present here with the saints or being absent from earth but present with Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8).
While we live here on earth, our aim is to grow in the spirit while we daily crucify the flesh with its deeds. Our hope is beyond this life and we wait for a life beyond this. We are here to fulfil our God given assignment and to fulfil our destiny. There are loved ones who have made the transition before us and are at home with Jesus Christ. We carry on to complete the course set before us and have a hope that we will meet them when it is our time to transition. While we live and advance the kingdom, we remember that there is a life beyond this state.
All the time our outer selves are wasting away, our inner man is being renewed daily (2 Corinthians 4:16).
A.P.-Y.
Devotional Inspirations 