We often struggle with understanding God’s will. It can be hard to know what He would have us do sometimes. But often, He doesn’t open the full future to us – He just shows us the next step for our life.
The Christians in Corinth struggled with faith too. They struggled with sin, worldly influences, false teachers and pleasing God. In 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, though, the apostle Paul offers them some encouragement and exhortation.
We Live by Faith
As Christians, it’s important to remember that this world is not our home. Our hope is in the Lord’s return. So despite COVID-19 and all the difficulties that have come with it, we can look forward to being “at home with the Lord.”
Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord – for we walk by faith, not by sight – we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
– 2 Corinthians 5:6-8
When you think of “walk by faith,” the Scripture that maybe comes to mind is Hebrews 11. This describes numerous cases of faith in the Old Testament. It also tells us what it means to live by faith:
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. … And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
– vv. 1-6
Oftentimes when we read the Bible and are challenged by what it tells us to do, we say, “Lord, show me something and then I’ll believe.” But we’re called to trust and obey. How do we do this? Here are some examples:
- Noah constructed an ark as God commanded (v. 7). It seemed absurd to build a giant boat in the desert, but he trusted that God knew what He was doing. Sometimes living by faith seems crazy.
- Abraham gave up everything that was familiar in order to follow God (vv. 8-10). He was even willing to sacrifice his only son for God (vv. 17-19). What are we willing to give up for God? Are we willing to lay our homes, jobs, time and money on the altar?
- Moses chose to be a Hebrew slave rather than a prince of Egypt. He also trusted God in leading the Israelites (vv. 24-29). Sometimes living by faith means giving away our securities. God doesn’t promise that everything will be perfect for us.
We Please God as We Wait
Throughout all our struggles, we have to trust that God is sovereign. And this belief has implications:
Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
– vv. 9-10
We can be of good courage because our Lord is coming. We don’t need to be afraid, because we know that God is control and His plan will be carried out. While we wait for the Lord’s return, though, we need to be pleasing Him. We must live by faith and please God “while we are at home in the body.”
Does the world see us this way? Does it see us reaching out and caring for one another? Do people see that we are living by faith and trying to please God?
Be of good courage. Yes, this is not our final home – but we can still experience the presence of God and know His will. We may not know the whole future, but we can live by faith and please God now. We don’t know what tomorrow may bring, but we can trust God and obey Him.
Devotional streamed on Facebook Live – Thursday, Apr. 9 @ 3:00 PM
