1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight……10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience……17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Comment: I remember, I am sure apocryphal, a story about an evangelist, who after his powerful call to repentance and faith, asked his audience if people wanted to end up in Heaven to raise their hands. All but one person did. The preacher asked the solitary decliner why he didn’t want to go. The man said, ‘May I come and ask one question?’ ‘Sure’. the man came to the front, pulled out his gun and asked, ‘Who wants to go to Heaven now?’ No one raised their hands! Not one of us knows what is going to happen in this coming year!
Paul starts this chapter talking about the massive advantages of heaven over the problems of living in this world! We just don’t know! Paul is not recommending euthanasia or suicide. He is talking about the glories of the future life that those who are ‘in Christ’ have in front of them. So, Paul says, ‘The future is glorious, don’t forget it!’ But then He continues concerning the future, and makes several very strong points. 1. Having your name entered in God’s ‘Book of Life’ is essential to get into heaven but Paul asks here, ‘What will your reward be?’ “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2. Every believer here and now on earth is a new creation, for Christ’s sake in the eyes of God ‘perfect’; but is still immature and needing ‘polishing’ by the renewing of our minds and being shaped (with our cooperation) by the Holy Spirit into the image of our Saviour! 3. Amongst a variety of things mentioned in other places in the Bible, Paul here underlines our Ambassadorship role, in which we have to, on God’s behalf, proclaim what He wants us to share with our fellow humans. 4. And the message is centred around what Christ has done; we are to plead with all whom we come into contact – ‘to be reconciled to God!’
1 Corinthians 3: 12-13 – Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw — each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, – The foundation is a right relationship with Jesus!
Prayer: Thank You for the great honour of being Your Ambassador, Father God. And thank You for the Glory of the Message which You ask me to share!
As I read it! 