Camping Out
May 2, 2010
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”—- Romans 12:9-13
Camping is something that we understand because it is something that most of us have done sometime during our lives. Most find joy in sleeping in a tent and cooking over a campfire with family, Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls or whoever. The Spirit through Paul says that our bodies are tents compared to the body that awaits us in heaven. So our bodies are tents here that our spirits dwell in as we move through this camp ground as it were towards our house in heaven. Speaking of Jesus,“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us…” The first part of John 1:14 says “and dwelt among us” the Greek word translated “dwelt” means “to pitch a tent.” Jesus gave up the prerogatives of deity (Philippians 2:6-7). He left heaven to pitch His tent among us.
“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as he is,” I John 3:2. So our resurrected body will be like Jesus’ body. It will be a fit dwelling for our spirit throughout eternity. I love the promise made in the last part of II Corinthians 4, “so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.” What a promise! This life that we enjoy now in the physical world will one day pass away and we will then enjoy real life, life that is eternal. So rejoice that this body, this tent, will be replaced by God one day when our camping trip in this world ends.
In speaking of the resurrection of the dead and the changing of the living at the last trumpet, Paul says, “For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality” (I Corinthians 15:53). Our camping trip is more through time rather than through space. It began when we were born and ends either when we die or when Jesus comes. I love Hebrews chapter 11 which speaks of the great people of faith. Note verses 13 and 14: “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.”
Like them, let us journey through life giving God glory as we go in all that we do. Let us be aware that the heavenly country is much better
Gracious Father, guide us as we journey towards the heavenly country and help us to keep on the right path. Guide us like You did those great ones of faith that have gone before us. Help us to keep our hearts and minds focused on our true country. In the name of Jesus. ─ Ed
Ed Wittlif ~ Denver, Colorado (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Ed Wittlif, former preacher of Albert Lea Church of Christ in Albert Lea, Minnesota, is a University Church of Chirst member.