2 Corinthians 5-9: Yesterday we were taught about the word carpenter that our English bible uses to describe Jesus’ vocation before He started His earthly ministry. The word in the original text is better defined as architect or stone mason. After our walk around Nazareth yesterday I can see why that would probably be much more precise. Nazareth is built on and beneath a mountainous terrain. Rocks are everywhere and homes are constructed out of them. There are some trees but they are not big and not much furniture is made from them in that early world culture. Thus, to comprehend that Jesus worked with His hands and probably helped build is easy to conceive. That leads me to our scripture today because as Jesus talked about earthly and temporary tents, He could probably point out tents in His surroundings as people made preparations for a more permanent dwelling. His point is that our bodies are those temporary tents. We weren’t made to dwell in them forever. Something much more long term is yet to come. While we remain here, God is constructing for us that forever home there with He and His Son. We can’t get distracted by the temporary. We must keep our eyes on the eternal.

What a great word to us today. This world and this body are wasting away, but because He gave us a new heart when we received Him as Savior and Lord we are preparing for an unbelievable eternal home in Heaven with Him. Old things have passed away and sin no longer reigns in our hearts! Praise the Lamb! Now it is important for us to help others find this forever life in the company of God and His Son. We do that one relationship at a time. Don’t miss that today. As you walk through this day, who is it that God is putting in your path? You could make a huge difference in their eternity!