Seeking Immortality

2 Corinthians 5:1-8

Our Heavenly Dwelling

1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Reflection of Bee:

Verse 2 speaks of something I have been looking forward to for many years. I don't feel at home in this world somehow... for it brings me much sorrows most times. The only thing that kept me going is my hope in Christ, knowing that I still have a mission to perform while on earth. I need to exercise daily faith to complete this journey here.

This world is not my home I'm just a passing through.
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from heaven's opened door.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Yes my Lord,
I want to be with You immediately if possible. I can't wait to see You face to face. Let me be patient a little while more and complete the mission You want me to do here. Guide my life and path, that I may be in Your will and lead others to You.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Reflection of Tommy:

It is true living in this fallen world, we are subject to be burdened and overwhelmed by the things and circumstances around us, result from sin (v4). We long in our heart for an escape from this ‘tent’ and to find rest in our true home. As Christian, we have the assurance of an eternal home with God when we leave this place. But as what Paul mentioned in verse 5, with the Holy Spirit resides within us, we’re in fact already have eternity in us now!

Dear Father, thank You for Your promise of my place for me in heaven with You. Thank You for teaching me Your patience and perseverance when facing the challenges in this life. Keep my feet on the right track, running towards the victory Jesus has won for me on Calvary. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Raised In Glory

1 Corinthians 15:42-49

42So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"[a]; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we[b] bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

Reflection of Bee:

I saw an advertisement on a lamp post last month, where it showed picture of a teenage girl which said: "Do you know that 1 in 5 girls your age has gone through plastic surgery?"
Yesterday I heard a radio commercial when I was in the taxi: A lady asked her friend, "Why is it called plastic surgery? Is it because after surgery your face will become plastic or because the surgery uses plastic?"

Hehehe... sounded comical isn't it? But the truth is many people, young and old, male and female are seeking for ways and means to stay good looking. Our again process is something most find it hard to accept. However, for Christians, we have the assurance that our old aging bodies will be transformed into new bodies that are "imperishable" (v42). Isn't that wonderful to know?


Dear Lord,

Thank You that I shall have that perfect body one day. May this hope of glory spurs me on remember that I should lay my treasures in heaven and not on earth. For all the things on earth will pass away and decay one day.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

All of us face limitations. We may have been coping with some form of sickness or weakness- physically or emotionally, in our present earthly bodies. But as Christian, we have the assurance and hope to be given a new imperishable spiritual body when Christ returns. This body will be without any kind of disabilities, weaknesses or imperfection; it will never die or become sick. God will give us this transformed, eternal body suited to our new eternal life.

Dear Father, thank You for the hope and the gift of this spiritual body when Christ returns. For now, teach me to continue walking in Your love and to use all that You’ve given me to good use; bringing glory and honor to You. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.