2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
The earthly house of the tabernacle is the mortal body in which the soul lives and works, dissolved when the body fails in death, while the building of God is a house not made with human hands but built by God, eternal in the heavens. That building includes the mansions Christ has gone to prepare, an incorruptible inheritance and lasting home with the heavenly Father on the earth made new where all is made new forever, unlike earthly possessions which are temporal and subject to loss. The promise belongs to those who receive Christ as a personal Saviour and know God through obedience and faith, and though the earthly body is dissolved they will be raised up at the last day to obtain the home when Jesus comes. While in this burdened tabernacle believers groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with the house from heaven so that mortality might be swallowed up by life. Its worth makes all earthly home comforts weigh nothing beside it, so believers may face death rejoicing in hope of God's kingdom and turn from temporal things which are seen to eternal things which are unseen.
Earthly House, Heavenly Building
The earthly house of this tabernacle is the earthly body itself, the dwelling in which the soul lives and works and which belongs to the Lord, and it is dissolved when the body fails in death. The building of God set against it is a house not made with human hands but built by God, made by the love of Christ, including the mansions Christ has gone to prepare, eternal in the heavens. That contrast is stated with assured certainty, not hesitancy and wavering unbelief.
That building is an incorruptible inheritance that cannot perish, a home on the earth made new where all is made new and lasts forever and ever. Unlike earthly possessions and pieces of land and business investments, which are temporal, uncertain and subject to loss, this inheritance is certain and eternal. It is a lasting home with the heavenly Father for the faithful and the blessed, higher than the highest mountain peak, where they will never be driven out and where the venom of the dragon cannot reach them.
Its promise turns minds from temporal things which are seen to eternal things which are unseen. While in this burdened tabernacle believers groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with the house from heaven and not to be found naked. They desire not to be unclothed but clothed upon, so that mortality might be swallowed up by life.
Receiving the Promised Home
The promise belongs to those who receive Christ as a personal Saviour, for to them it is assured that if the earthly body is dissolved in death they still have a building of God eternal in the heavens. It belongs to those who know God and Christ as their life, and to those who know Them through a life of obedience and faith, that even if the earthly body is dissolved they have a home not made with hands, eternal in heaven.
That eternal home, a building not made by human hands, is intended for the obedient as an inheritance that cannot perish. Habitual sacrifice must shape character in this life for those who would have that building not made with hands, since the heavenly building is connected with the character formed here. It is an incorruptible inheritance and eternal reward of eternal life, a home on the earth made new where all is made new and lasts forever and ever, unlike pieces of land and business investments which are temporal, uncertain and subject to loss. Mortals are therefore short-sighted to set affections on this life and lose sight of eternal things, and must gain intelligent knowledge of the conditions for obtaining the certain and eternal inheritance and take no risk with soul salvation. The beauties of nature, though blighted by the curse, offer only a faint picture of the joys prepared for those who love Him.
Because the life of Christ in the believer is eternal, though the earthly tabernacle body is dissolved and the believer dies, he will still be raised up at the last day. The heavenly home is obtained in the future after finishing God's appointed earthly work, and its possession comes when Jesus comes.
The verse gives strong consolation apart from human words, so there is no need to pass by the Great Teacher's words to send to human beings for words of comfort. Feeding upon this promise as part of the banquet of God's Word gives an experience of the highest value, showing God's Word to be as wheat to the chaff of man's word.
Believers may therefore face death rejoicing in the hope of a home in God's kingdom when the earthly body fails in death. That lasting heavenly home built by God is to be anxiously desired and longed for, and believers are anxious to receive it and long to enter it. That longing is expressed in praying eagerly for the Lord Jesus to come quickly.
Its worth makes all earthly home comforts and conveniences weigh nothing beside it, for it is far better than them all. That heavenly country is of more consequence than any city or country on earth. It is worthwhile to leave homes and treasures behind to attain the lasting home with the heavenly Father, even to grope through dark and crooked paths and be shut in rocky chambers away from daylight, while still hoping to possess earthly homes again. Mortals are short-sighted to set affections on this life and lose sight of eternal things.
The heavenly country should be thought about and talked about freely and earnestly in a heavenly frame of mind, instead of keeping silent about it while speaking freely of other countries. The beauties of nature, though blighted by the curse, offer only a faint picture of the joys God has prepared for those who love Him.