Life In A Tent Has Its Challenges

2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

2 Corinthians 5:4
For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Life in a tent has its challenges. A tent is temporary. A tent can get very cold at night. A tent can get uncomfortably hot during the day. A tent has limited space to move around. A tent doesn’t have solid walls. Life in a tent has its challenges.

A tent is easy to destroy. A tent is not a safe place. A tent can easily catch fire. A tent can get torn. A tent can easily be stolen. A tent has no privacy since it may not be soundproof. A tent is good for very brief outdoor activities. Life in a tent has its challenges.

Apostle Paul tells us that our present life can be compared to life in a tent. Our future life with God in eternity is compared to life in a permanent building. We are now living life in a tent. Life in a tent has its challenges.

Life in this tent has pain. Life in this tent has sicknesses. Life in this tent has a myriad of suffering. Life in this tent comes with rejection. Life in this tent comes with disappointments. Indeed, life in a tent has its challenges!

All our difficulties today are because we are in a tent. Luckily we are in the tent for a short time. The good news is that this tent is transient. Life in a tent has its challenges.

New Living Translation
While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.

Amplified Bible
For while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened [often weighed down, oppressed], not that we want to be unclothed [separated by death from the body], but to be clothed, so that what is mortal [the body] will be swallowed up by life [after the resurrection].

While we do not like living in a tent, we also do not wish to die. Our protest against life in the tent is not a death wish. Our groaning, murmuring, complaining, sighing, etc., is not a desire to die and stop participating in life. Instead, it is because we are longing for a better life in eternity that God has planned. We complain about the tent because we want to live in the house built by God and not because we want to get out of the tent right away. Life in a tent has its challenges!

Therefore, those in the tent should not despair. Those in the tent should not give up. Those in the tent should not resign to fate. Those in the tent must remain hopeful and persevere, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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