2 Corinthians 5:6-9 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:… I. THAT LONGING AFTER HOME ESSENTIALLY BELONGS TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS BY NO .MEANS SO GENERALLY ACKNOWLEDGED AS A PIOUS MIND OUGHT PERHAPS TO EXPECT. More loudly than ever voices are raised, which contest the right of that longing, and the hope out of which it springs to a place in the Christian's inner life. The one who believes on Christ hath eternal life, and needs not to long for it in the other world. 1. But those who have already partaken of eternal life in communion with God, have always longed most heartily after its completion. Paul has been especially named the apostle of faith, and yet — (1) Paul had rather a desire to depart from the body, and be at home with the Lord. For the very reason that Christ is his life, even here during his earthly pilgrimage death is his gain (Philippians 1:21). The life of the believer is still hid with Christ in God; but when Christ our life shall appear, then will His people appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:3, 4). Yea, the apostle speaks of the Holy Ghost as a pledge of the incorruptible inheritance (2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Romans 8:23). But the statement that the resurrection had already taken place, i.e., in a spiritual way, is rejected by the apostle (2 Timothy 2:16, 18). (2) So with the apostle of love (1 John 2:28; 1 John 3:2). (3) So with the apostle of hope (1 Peter 1:8; 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 4:13, 14; 1 Peter 5:10). (4) With all this the testimony of our Lord agrees (John 6:40; John 17:24; Luke 23:43). 2. What the words of our Lord and of His apostles teach us is also confirmed by the condition and inward connection of the life which His Spirit works in us. "Whilst we dwell in the body," says the apostle, "we are absent from the Lord" as in a foreign land; "for," adds the apostle as his ground, "we walk by faith, and not by sight." Is not faith the fountain of the new life, and is it not a certain confidence of what is hoped for, a firm conviction of what is not seen? (Hebrews 11:1.) Do we not know by it that the Lord, with His grace, is always near to us on our pilgrimage? And yet, however close the connection of the believer with Christ may be, it is nevertheless to be esteemed a separation in comparison with the perfect communion with Him of which he will then become partaker, when his faith is once changed into sight. And if faith is nothing else than the concealed bud of sight, how should we not long after the development of this bud into glorious bloom? If we see now in faith the glory of the Lord only through a glass, and as in a riddle (1 Corinthians 13:12), who should not long, with the holy apostle, to see face to face, and to know even as we are known? (1 Corinthians 13:12.) A time is coming when everything imperfect reaches its perfection, and everything piecemeal appears a beautiful whole; where all difference disappears, and all concealed glory becomes manifest; where all holy longings find perfect satisfaction, and all blessed anticipations and hopes become a living reality. Then shall our faith, which at one time is an offence to the children of this world, at another time a folly, be solemnly justified through seeing. II. THE EFFECTS OF THIS LONGING WILL NOT BE OTHERWISE THAN SALUTARY. 1. It will strengthen and enliven our zeal after holiness (ver. 9, cf. Romans 2:7). As the sun cannot do otherwise than give light and warmth, so the longing after home in the case of the Christian cannot do otherwise than manifest itself in redoubled striving after a conduct well-pleasing to God. Each one who has such a hope in Christ purifies himself even as He is pure (1 John 3:3). For only to those who have a pure heart is the promise given, that they shall see God (Matthew 6:8). 2. It will promote our comfort and peace as regards the earthly life. If our life is like a journey, say which traveller will, with more cheerful courage, proceed on his way — he who knows that at the close of it he will meet his end; or he who knows at the end of his journey there awaits him an entrance into the most delightful home? The thought, which no one can drive away, that we are at every step come nearer to the end, is dreadful to those who have no hope; but for the one who longs after his home it is a source of holy joy. Certainly one proceeds calmly and peacefully through the earthly life when one has nothing to dread but everything to hope (Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 6:9). (Julius Muller, D. D.)( For we walk by faith not by sight.) — Parallel Verses KJV: Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: |
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