I FEEL LIKE TRAVELING ON

2 Corinthians 5:1–9 KJV 1900

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. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Intro: The Bible tells us that we who are born again are “pilgrims and strangers” in this world, 1 Pet. 2:11.

1 Peter 2:11 (KJV 1900)

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

When we got saved, we became citizens of a place called Heaven, Phil. 3:20 .

Philippians 3:20 (KJV 1900)

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Since that is true, there is a pull from another land within the heart of the child of God.

It just seems that we don’t fit in down here like we did before we were saved. This world just doesn’t feel as comfortable to the child of God has it used to. There is a desire within those who are saved to leave this world and go to Heaven. Would you agree with that today?

This same desire was also within the heart of Paul. He wrote this in Phil. 1:23 , “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:”

Philippians 1:23 KJV 1900

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Here, in our text today, Paul seems to be writing from the heart of one who is longing for his heavenly home. As I read what Paul has written here and what he penned down in other places, he seems to be saying, “I feel like traveling on!”

There are times when we all feel that way. There are times when we look at this life with all the burdens and sorrow and we long for our heavenly home. There are many days when we would all have to confess, if we were honest, that “we feel like traveling on.” Let’s look into these precious verses today and find some help for our hearts in the journey of life. I want to preach for a few minutes on the thought: I feel Like Traveling On. Paul shares some special words in these verses that we need to hear today.

I. SOME WORDS ABOUT HARDSHIP

(Ill. Paul pulls no punches when he talks about this life. He describes the difficulties believers face while living in this foreign, sin-cursed world.)

This Life Is A Temporary Time—

2 Corinthians 5:1 (KJV 1900)

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.

Paul uses two words to describe the temporary nature of this life.

The word “Tabernacle” refers to “a tent, or a temporary dwelling.” It is used as a metaphor for these human bodies, which are a temporary home for the soul, which will be taken down at death.

The other word is “dissolved,” this word means “to demolish, to destroy, or to loosen.” It was used to refer to “travelers reaching the end of their journey and loosening the straps which held the burdens to the back of their animals.”

In other words, this life is seen as a temporary time. These mortal bodies will fall away and bonds that keep us attached to this world will fall away and we will leave here. This brings to mind two thoughts.

One is a blessing and the other is a burden.

1. The Blessing—

This life and its problems will not last forever! Life, with all its trials and burdens, will end some day for the child of God. That is a blessing. (Ill. My favorite verse in the Bible is the ones where it says, “And it came to pass …” It didn’t come to stay, but it merely came to pass!)

2. The Burden—

Because this life is temporary, we are all touched by the icy hand of death. We watch our loved ones leave this world, and we must prepare to leave it ourselves. This is one truth that makes this temporary life a difficult time!

This Life Is A Tragic Time—

2 Corinthians 5:2 (KJV 1900)

2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

Look at the words Paul uses to describe this life and its tragedies: “groan”, v. 2; this word means “to sigh heavily within;”

2 Corinthians 5:4 (KJV 1900)

4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

“burdened,” v. 4; this word means “to be pressed down on the inside;”

“mortality,” v. 4, this words refers to “that which is mortal or liable to death.”

Paul uses these words to remind us that this life is filled with tragedies, trials and trauma. Of course, if you have lived here for any length of time, you really don’t need anyone to tell you that!

Still, the Bible makes it abundantly clear that as long as we are in this world we will face trials and troubles, Job 14:1 ; John 16:33; Eccl. 2:22–23 .

Job 14:1 KJV 1900

1 Man that is born of a woman Is of few days, and full of trouble.

Ecclesiastes 2:22–23 KJV 1900

22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

As we deal with matters like disease, infirmity, aging, death and the many tragedies life can bring our way, we are made to understand that this life is a life filled with problems. Thank God again that this life is temporary!

This Life Is A Testing Time—

2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV 1900)

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

We are told that we are to navigate this world “walking by faith.”

God allows us to pass through all the events of life, all the trails, the tragedies and the traumas to prepare us for glory.

He uses the pressures of this life to remake us into His perfect image, 2 Cor. 4:17 ; Rom. 8:18 .

2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV 1900

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Romans 8:18 KJV 1900

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

After all, that is His goal for us, Eph. 4:13–15 .

Ephesians 4:13–15 KJV 1900

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

II. SOME WORDS ABOUT HOPE

(Ill. Yes, this life is filled with problems, trials and tragedies, but there is also hope while we travel here. Paul shows us the downside of life, but he also points out that there is a positive side to this life as well. Notice the hope every child of God has.)

We Have A Comforting Hope—

2 Corinthians 5:4 (KJV 1900)

4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Paul has already told us that this life, with all its ups and downs will not last forever. Now he tells us that we have some things to look forward to in our future. He tells us that we will be “clothed upon,” and that “mortality will be swallowed up of life.”

Paul is telling that when this earthly life draws to a close and we lay down these temporary bodies, we have a new body and a new life awaiting us in Heaven, Rev. 21:4 ; 1 Cor. 15:49–58!

Revelation 21:4 KJV 1900

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

(Ill. The glories of that new body and that new home.)

(Ill. These bodies are fading. We try and do everything we can to remodel them and keep them looking as good as possible, but it is a losing effort. After all, as Paul says in verse 1, they are “dissolving.”

Ill. The fact is, these bodies we wear are wearing out, Eccl. 12:3–7 !

Ecclesiastes 12:3–7 KJV 1900

3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; 5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Someone has said that you know you are aging when:

• It takes you longer to rest up than it did to get tired.

• Most of your dreams are re-runs.

• You sit down in a rocking chair and you can’t get it started.

• Your mind signs contracts that your body can’t keep.

• When you don’t care where your wife goes, as long as you don’t have to go with her.

• When your knees buckle, but your belt won’t.

• When you sink your teeth into a steak and they stay there.

• When everything hurts, and what doesn’t hurt doesn’t work.

As Solomon said in Eccl. 3:20 , “All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.”

Ecclesiastes 3:20 KJV 1900

20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

Thank God, there is a comforting hope as we pass through this world.)

B. v. 1, 6

We Have A Confident Hope—

Look at the language Paul uses, “we know,” v. 1;

2 Corinthians 5:1 (KJV 1900)

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.

“we have,” v. 1;

“we are always confident,” v. 6;

2 Corinthians 5:6 (KJV 1900)

6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

“we are confident,” v. 8.

2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV 1900)

8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Paul is not talking about a hope is a “maybe so thing,” but he is talking about a hope that is a “know so thing.”

I am glad tonight that we do not have to worry about whether or not things will work out for us in eternity. We have God’s Word on the issue. He cannot tell a lie, Heb. 6:18, so what we read in His Word should comfort our hearts.

Paul tells us in Phil. 1:6 , “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 1:6 KJV 1900

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

What the Lord has started, He will complete. Thank God for the confidence we have in Him! When we take our saved loved ones to the cemetery, we do not bury them. They have already gone on to be with the Lord. When it comes our time to go, we will not die, because we have passed from death unto life. We merely leave this world and go into the presence of the Lord. Thank God for that confident hope this evening!

We Have A Cleansing Hope—

2 Corinthians 5:9 KJV 1900

9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Paul tells us that the hope we have within us causes us to live right and to work actively for the glory of God. Those who know Him want to please Him! Whether we are here or there, there is a desire to be found pleasing in His sight. If you really believe He is coming for you one day, either by death or by the rapture, you will have want to live a life pleasing unto the Lord, Ill. 1 John 3:3 .

1 John 3:3 KJV 1900

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

III. SOME WORDS ABOUT HOME

(Ill. Paul has something to say about the home to which we are headed. Thank God, there is a place called prepared to receive us when this earthly life is over.)

Our Home Is A Perfect Place—

2 Corinthians 5:1 (KJV 1900)

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.

Paul tells us that our home on high is a “building of God.” This tells us something of the nature of that place. If the Lord makes it, then it stands to reason that it is perfect. After all, God makes no junk. This world is tainted and stained by sin, Rom. 8:22 .

Romans 8:22 KJV 1900

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

But, none of the things that defile this world can enter that fair land, Rev. 21:27; 21:8.

Revelation 21:27 KJV 1900

27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Revelation 21:8 KJV 1900

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Heaven is a place where the trials, burdens, sins and faults of this world cannot enter. There will be no death, no tears, no burdens, no trials, no devil, no evil, no sadness, no sorrow, no grief, nothing to defile, discourage or defeat will ever darken that glorious land. It will be a place of perfect rest, peace, glory, existence and joy. It is a perfect place, being prepared for a redeemed people, John 14:1–3 .

John 14:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

I’m glad I’m going!

Our Home Is A Permanent Place—

2 Corinthians 5:1 (KJV 1900)

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.

This earthly life is temporary and fleeting, Job 7:6; Psa. 103:15–16; James 4:14 . But, the place we are headed is permanent!

Paul says it is “eternal in the heavens.” It will not fade; it will not pass away and it will never be destroyed, 1 Pet. 1:3–5 .

While eternity rolls forward, the glory of Heaven will never fade away and the residents of Heaven will endure in that glorious city forever.

Our Home Is A Precious Place—

2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV 1900)

8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

We are told that when we leave these bodies, we go immediately into the presence of the Lord. As soon as death causes this clay tabernacle to fold up and fall away, the redeemed soul finds itself in the presence of the One Who died to save that soul. That truth alone makes Heaven worth everything.

We can speak of golden streets, jasper walls, angelic hosts, pearl gates and foundations of precious stones; but the presence of Jesus Christ is what will make Heaven Heavenly! It will be Him and His glory that will light that city, Rev. 21:23. It was he that died on the cross the make it possible and His people will see Him in that city on high. They will forever dwell in His presence, 1 Thes. 4:17

1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJV 1900

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

and they will see the face of the One Who died to deliver them from their sins and from their sentence of death, Rev. 5:6 ; Rev. 22:4.

Revelation 22:4 KJV 1900

4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.