Text: 2 Cor. 5:1-10
Facebook live: God’s mighty fortress replaces the broken tent of this life!
5 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.
Today we acknowledge fathers.
Thinking of my dad and dads in general brings a smile to my face. I loved my dad and all he brought to my life. Dads are given a responsibility to serve and lead their families and in society as well, but not all measure up to the calling they are given, so you may or may not have the same joyful memories about your dad as I do. It is for us to remember fathers this day, and maybe this is my own disclaimer:
Fathers are human and fathers are sinners and fathers fall short, but in Christ fathers are forgiven and on this Father’s Day may we all have the blessings of forgiveness given and received!
We are to go about our daily tasks in whatever vocation God has placed us as faithful servants of the word and to serve our neighbor which is God’s desire for each one of us. God has done all things for us in restoring our relationship with him, but he uses us daily to serve the needs of others.
A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from every need that hath us now o’er taken.
The old evil foe now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal.
Fathers are given the headship to care for their families and represent our heavenly father’s love and care in this life. But this life is temporal.
5 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.
Paul speaks here of the human body with the analogy of a tent. For those of you who enjoy camping, you may have experienced the fact that tents, don’t last forever.
Back in 1984 when my wife Monica was pregnant with Amy, we went camping with our friends Terry and Julie.
We had camped the summer before and even though Monica was pregnant and due in a few months, we went again. As we got to the campsite, we began to set up the tent. About half way through the process, the seams started pulling apart and before long the tent literally fell apart at the seams. Those around us were getting a pretty good laugh at our misfortune. As we pulled one side tighter ... the other side would pull apart.
Evidently after camping the previous year, Terry had put away the tent wet instead of setting it up and letting it dry and the thread of the seams had rotted. So, to continue to have our camping trip, we had to go to the store in town and another tent had to be purchased.
Not a great joy but we did finish our camping trip.
The hearers in Paul’s day would have been familiar with the wearing out of fabric of their own tents and here Paul connects it to the fabric of their own mortality.
2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.
Our lives are like the vulnerability of being naked and exposed.
This past week is the anniversary of what would have been my mother’s 94th birthday. June 13th 1930 seems so long ago, though my mom is ever on my mind. Eleanor Tkac passed away in 1988 at the age of 57 suffering the pains of cancer, and was called from this life to the life eternal in heaven way too soon.
At times the blessing of a long life is given. My Aunt Bev shares the same birthday with my mom but two years older and just turned 96; and it seems to me these days that many like Aunt Bev, are living into their 90’s, but for some, life is cut short.
Thake for example my classmate in Jr. High, Sylvia Kalaras, her life was cut short by a house fire in 1969 at the age of 14.
I still remember the details of her death in the basement of her home ... she couldn't get out.
As I heard it, the principal of the Jr. High School Mr. Migliore, lived next door to her and Sylvia – stuck in the basement as the fire raged - got as close as a foot away from his hand so he could pull her through the basement window, but fear caused her to back away from his hand for some reason into the smoke and he never saw her again. 55 years later and I still remember it like it was yesterday.
4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—
We all can attest to the trials of this life and at times being burdened, worn out and spent - not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, by God’s miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit to clothe us with a building not made by human hands so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by the eternal.
Through the Spirit we are pointed to our mighty fortress which is Christ Jesus our Lord!
5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
And that guarantee, you can take to the bank!
The guarantee is this: that we receive the incorruptible when we put off the corruptible as our mortal bodies are clothed with immortality at Christ’s return.
Paul had told the Corinthians this in 1 Cor. 15:52
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
But Paul adds in his second letter to the Corinthians that they are to be found clothed and not naked.
That they are to be clothed in this life with Christ – first at their baptism – as the righteousness of Christ is given and marked as their own.
And also, as they partake of the Lord’s body and blood in the sacrament of the altar, for the forgiveness of their sins which will strengthen their faith!
But at times, as sinners, we’d rather complain than joy in the gift of God’s forgiveness in Christ.
And so, we miss out on the faith building God desires to do in us and for us by his free gift.
But God, by his Spirit, won’t let us grumble long.
As his church we are fed and receive the blessing that he intends for us, so that we can have courage and confidence.
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
It is a comfort to know that when we leave this life and this body of death we are to be with the Lord.
It is that confidence in Christ – our Mighty Fortress - that we hold on to.
While grace and faith are God’s gifts, and while we earn nothing by what we do, but simply receive the Lord’s favor; our neighbors, our children, and our friends need us to share God’s gifts with them, in word and deed.
Martin Luther says this in his Large Catechism to parents about the 4th commandment.
Parents should consider that they owe obedience to God, and that above all, they should earnestly and faithfully discharge the duties of their office, not only to provide for the material support of their children, servants, subjects, etc., but especially to bring them up to the praise and honor of God.
The Book of Concord, LC, Tappert Pg. 388
9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
By Christ’s work we have peace with God. This is a blessed gift, but as Paul also wrote to the church at Philippi:
23I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
God’s mighty fortress replaces the broken tent of this life!
We live in this tent and serve until the Lord calls us home whether at 14, 57 or in our 90’s. It is not our concern to dwell on death for Christ Jesus has overcome death at the cross for you and by faith in him you have an eternity that awaits all who believe
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen.
5 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.
Today we acknowledge fathers.
Thinking of my dad and dads in general brings a smile to my face. I loved my dad and all he brought to my life. Dads are given a responsibility to serve and lead their families and in society as well, but not all measure up to the calling they are given, so you may or may not have the same joyful memories about your dad as I do. It is for us to remember fathers this day, and maybe this is my own disclaimer:
Fathers are human and fathers are sinners and fathers fall short, but in Christ fathers are forgiven and on this Father’s Day may we all have the blessings of forgiveness given and received!
We are to go about our daily tasks in whatever vocation God has placed us as faithful servants of the word and to serve our neighbor which is God’s desire for each one of us. God has done all things for us in restoring our relationship with him, but he uses us daily to serve the needs of others.
A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from every need that hath us now o’er taken.
The old evil foe now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal.
Fathers are given the headship to care for their families and represent our heavenly father’s love and care in this life. But this life is temporal.
5 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.
Paul speaks here of the human body with the analogy of a tent. For those of you who enjoy camping, you may have experienced the fact that tents, don’t last forever.
Back in 1984 when my wife Monica was pregnant with Amy, we went camping with our friends Terry and Julie.
We had camped the summer before and even though Monica was pregnant and due in a few months, we went again. As we got to the campsite, we began to set up the tent. About half way through the process, the seams started pulling apart and before long the tent literally fell apart at the seams. Those around us were getting a pretty good laugh at our misfortune. As we pulled one side tighter ... the other side would pull apart.
Evidently after camping the previous year, Terry had put away the tent wet instead of setting it up and letting it dry and the thread of the seams had rotted. So, to continue to have our camping trip, we had to go to the store in town and another tent had to be purchased.
Not a great joy but we did finish our camping trip.
The hearers in Paul’s day would have been familiar with the wearing out of fabric of their own tents and here Paul connects it to the fabric of their own mortality.
2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.
Our lives are like the vulnerability of being naked and exposed.
This past week is the anniversary of what would have been my mother’s 94th birthday. June 13th 1930 seems so long ago, though my mom is ever on my mind. Eleanor Tkac passed away in 1988 at the age of 57 suffering the pains of cancer, and was called from this life to the life eternal in heaven way too soon.
At times the blessing of a long life is given. My Aunt Bev shares the same birthday with my mom but two years older and just turned 96; and it seems to me these days that many like Aunt Bev, are living into their 90’s, but for some, life is cut short.
Thake for example my classmate in Jr. High, Sylvia Kalaras, her life was cut short by a house fire in 1969 at the age of 14.
I still remember the details of her death in the basement of her home ... she couldn't get out.
As I heard it, the principal of the Jr. High School Mr. Migliore, lived next door to her and Sylvia – stuck in the basement as the fire raged - got as close as a foot away from his hand so he could pull her through the basement window, but fear caused her to back away from his hand for some reason into the smoke and he never saw her again. 55 years later and I still remember it like it was yesterday.
4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—
We all can attest to the trials of this life and at times being burdened, worn out and spent - not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, by God’s miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit to clothe us with a building not made by human hands so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by the eternal.
Through the Spirit we are pointed to our mighty fortress which is Christ Jesus our Lord!
5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
And that guarantee, you can take to the bank!
The guarantee is this: that we receive the incorruptible when we put off the corruptible as our mortal bodies are clothed with immortality at Christ’s return.
Paul had told the Corinthians this in 1 Cor. 15:52
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
But Paul adds in his second letter to the Corinthians that they are to be found clothed and not naked.
That they are to be clothed in this life with Christ – first at their baptism – as the righteousness of Christ is given and marked as their own.
And also, as they partake of the Lord’s body and blood in the sacrament of the altar, for the forgiveness of their sins which will strengthen their faith!
But at times, as sinners, we’d rather complain than joy in the gift of God’s forgiveness in Christ.
And so, we miss out on the faith building God desires to do in us and for us by his free gift.
But God, by his Spirit, won’t let us grumble long.
As his church we are fed and receive the blessing that he intends for us, so that we can have courage and confidence.
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
It is a comfort to know that when we leave this life and this body of death we are to be with the Lord.
It is that confidence in Christ – our Mighty Fortress - that we hold on to.
While grace and faith are God’s gifts, and while we earn nothing by what we do, but simply receive the Lord’s favor; our neighbors, our children, and our friends need us to share God’s gifts with them, in word and deed.
Martin Luther says this in his Large Catechism to parents about the 4th commandment.
Parents should consider that they owe obedience to God, and that above all, they should earnestly and faithfully discharge the duties of their office, not only to provide for the material support of their children, servants, subjects, etc., but especially to bring them up to the praise and honor of God.
The Book of Concord, LC, Tappert Pg. 388
9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
By Christ’s work we have peace with God. This is a blessed gift, but as Paul also wrote to the church at Philippi:
23I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
God’s mighty fortress replaces the broken tent of this life!
We live in this tent and serve until the Lord calls us home whether at 14, 57 or in our 90’s. It is not our concern to dwell on death for Christ Jesus has overcome death at the cross for you and by faith in him you have an eternity that awaits all who believe
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen.
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