Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-8

“For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven…” (2 Corinthians 5:2)

Our future resurrection is real. One day we will shed off this body of sin and be clothed with our new heavenly habitation — a new glorious body. So real is this future hope and reality that Paul actually describes the Christian as groaning for it with earnest desire.

The word groan in the Greek language means more literally to complain strongly.  Just like a child who complains at having to sit still too long, we are to adopt that same kind of impatience, as it were, for the desire of our resurrection. If there was ever a time that we are biblically justified to complain, it's in this. We are to be sick of our sinful state and eager for our heavenly state. We are to be discontent with this broken life and looking for the life which is to come!

So significant is this reality for the future life that Paul doesn’t fail to mention it in nearly all of his letters to the church.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20–21)

“We also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:23)

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession [our new bodies], to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14)

Do you groan in your spirit for the day of your redemption? Do you earnestly desire it with a fervency that surpasses the passions of this world? Is the day of your glorious resurrection in Christ a day you look forward to?

If not, you have lost sight of the wonderful hope of being a child of God. Perhaps Satan has distracted you, or the love of the world has taken root in you. Therefore, return to this great reality: You shall rise again!

“And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” (1 Corinthians 15:49)

Gaze your eyes upon the skies for this is one of the essential marks of a Christian. When we do this, we shall be able to take flight on the wings of eagles and deny all that the world has to offer, for it is terrible and foul in comparison to what the New World in the heavens offers.

We will be so fixed on the joy that is to come, that even if Satan himself brought all of his legions against us, he could not take away our happiness. We will be so enraptured by our future glory in Christ that we will be sick to think of others who will miss it and have no part of it.

I pray, dear church, that today we would all put on the helmet of our salvation and appropriate our minds to think of such wonderful things.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.… [for] when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:2, 4)