Devotional -

The House Not Made with Hands ( 30 January )

For we know that when this tent we live in-our body here on earth-is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever. And now we sigh, so great is our desire that our home which comes from heaven should be put on over us; by being clothed with it we shall not be without a body. While we live in this earthly tent, we groan with a feeling of oppression; it is not that we want to get rid of our earthly body, but that we want to have the heavenly one put on over us, so that what is mortal will be transformed by life.
2 Corinthians 5:1-4

As we live our life here on earth, walking by faith in an invisible God and king, our Lord Jesus Christ, we must be reminded daily that the house we live in is in the heavens with him who made our bodies, our souls, and our spirits. That means that however hard and difficult it is for us to understand life here, we know that our Lord is working out all the details of what concerns us, deep in our hearts.

Yes! We have a house! Jesus said, "Do not be worried and upset. Believe in God and believe also in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so." (John 14:1-2).

Let us be assured that the Lord has a place for us, and in that place he is working out our destiny. The hardships we experience here in our present life-injustices, misunderstandings, persecutions, rejection, slander, fatigue, illness, alienation, loneliness, and uncertainty-are all being used by the Lord to get us ready to enter his house and live in the room he is preparing for us.

Let us strengthen ourselves with the hope and faith that the Lord has not forgotten us, but he is working in us to train us and to get us ready for that wonderful day. His house is now and it is to come.

"You bless everyone who lives in your house, and they sing your praises." (Psalm 84:4)

- 30 JANUARY -