50 Days of Wisdom

To the apostle Paul, the threat and reality of death never affected his boldness, his courage, or his message. Death would take him where he would rather be and make him what he'd rather become. And in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, Paul makes statements that show us why he faced death with such confidence. First of all, he knew the next body is the best. Look at verse 1: "For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house"—that's referring to the physical body in this life, like a tent, transient, temporary—"if it's torn down"—dismantled—"in its place we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens." We're going to go from a tent to a building. We're going to go from something that is a part of this creation to something that is not, a house not made with hands, which is a phrase referring to something not of this creation. We're going to go from something that is passing to something that is eternal in the heavens. The beloved apostle's body was aging, battered by suffering, worn out by journeys and hard work, and battled in the struggle with sin, and he longed for his resurrection body. He longed for that perishable to put on what is imperishable, for that mortal to put on what is immortal, and for that corruptible to put on what is incorruptible. He longed for that natural body to go into the ground and to be raised a spiritual body. He longed to have the body of his humble state made like the body of the glory of Christ. He longed to be like Jesus Christ. He, along with all other believers, was groaning for the redemption of his body, and he knew the next body is the best one. He was weary of the limitations, debilitations, temptations, and iniquities of his flesh, so he faced death with confidence and anticipation, because he wanted that body that was the body of glory. Secondly, he not only knew that the next body is the best, but he knew that the next life is perfect. Verse 2 says, "For indeed, in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven." And verse 4, "For indeed, while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed"—and here's the key—"in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life." What he wanted was life—real life, eternal life—that's what life there means. He wanted what is mortal to be swallowed up in the fullness of the perfections of eternal life. That's what he was after. An immortal life—that's what he longed for. He wanted the full richness of the eternal life that God had prepared for His own. The keynote is that little phrase "by life" at the end of verse 4. He wanted everything to be swallowed up by eternal life, the perfect life. But until then, "in this house we groan"—or sigh. What he's saying is we're uncomfortable in this body. There's a certain kind of misery in this body. We are unfulfilled, incomplete, and imperfect. And we ache, sigh, and yearn for the next life, that this mortal may be swallowed up by that which is immortal, incorruptible, and eternal. He's groaning with a passionate longing. He's weary of the frustrations of this life: the disappointments, the limitations, the weakness, and the sins. And he wants to be free from all of this debilitating, warring, relentless living. The disabilities of earthly life plague him, and he's had enough. And so, he says, "For indeed, because we know what awaits us, in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven." Listen, Paul was never deterred by death because he knew the next body is the best and the next life is perfection. And likewise, believers are not to be satisfied with the redemption of the soul; they are to long for the next body and life. Repent and believe! GTY.org (47-32) – Facing Death Confidently, Part 2

Today's Wisdom

Day: 995

August 9, 2026

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Grace and peace,

My name is Mark Paul from Wauchula, Florida, and like the Apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 1:14, "I know that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent." Consequently, my goal is to leave a legacy that will continue to advance the kingdom of God long after I have departed. In other words, bear fruit for eternity. And by simply reading and sharing my free eBooks, you too become contributors to the advancement of His kingdom. Thank you for partaking in this endeavor, and I look forward to greeting you on heaven's shore.

The Truth in Love,

Mark Paul - Servant of God

Now grant, O Lord, that when the souls who read these books cast their eyes upon these lines, their minds may be illuminated and their consciences convinced and awakened, that they may see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and be converted so that You may heal them. Amen!