2 Corinthians 5:6-10
So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord – for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (NRSVUE)
As you may know, my dog Finn is a miniature schnauzer, but there were two schnauzers before her, Chloe and Lucy. Lucy went blind around the age of seven and since she was not that old, it was devastating to our family. We figured it out as she would come to just stand in a room or not chase a ball tossed to her. The vet confirmed it and then a specialist confirmed what our vet had said. I didn’t know how to handle the diagnosis, but Lucy knew. She just continued to beg for treats, pursue our love, claim our proximity, and demand our consistency which meant to keep on living with her as we always had. She navigated the house and the backyard as if sighted and made it clear that her walks were non-negotiable. I wrote the following in 2014 in a social media post:
“Just walked Lucy. Lucy starts her walk like most dogs, circling me in the house, barking at my running shoes, shrieking when the harness and leash go on. She bounds over the front steps as if they were non-existent, and then she runs. Of course most of you know Lucy is blind - so imagine the chance to run at full throttle knowing Mom's got you. So she runs with all her might in the beginning, then we settle in and she briskly walks the rest of the trail with so much confidence and swag - well, it is almost comical. But then those of you who know Lucy get that! She has so much faith that I will not let anything happen to her that she runs and walks as if sighted. There's a metaphor here...”
Paul is telling the people of Corinth several things in this passage, but central to his message is for them to walk by faith, not by sight. If we can be strong in our faith, then we will be confident, we will be courageous. To be in our physical, earthly bodies means not being home with God - not yet, which creates tension for the life we live today. However, that tension can be eased by living to please God. Paul encourages his early church to live in a manner that pleases God as we will have to account for how we lived before the judgment seat of Christ. Paul encourages us to live our human lives - strong, courageous and in anticipation of the next life with our heavenly Father.
Questions for Reflection:
- How do you strengthen your faith so that your life is guided by trust rather than physical evidence?
- Did you find this Bible verse to be uplifting?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the early prophets and the early church. We know that they struggled just as we do today. Please help us to walk by faith, and not by sight. Help us to focus on pleasing you. This will allow us to navigate our current earthly life with less tension and with the anticipation of the life we will someday have with you.
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