Proverbs 13—15, 2 Corinthians 5 Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:1
It is not unusual to see a canopy tent set up in the cemetery near our house. These are temporary
structures, providing some relief from the weather during a graveside service. Soon after the
burial, the tent is removed.
I like those tents for two reasons. One is obvious—they do keep the sun, snow or rain off of
those gathered by the grave. The other is not so obvious, but I would point it out if I were leading
the service.
At the committal I would reach up and grab hold of the tent. “ We don’t live in tents,” I would
say, “but in houses.” Tents are fine for times such as that, but most people would not want to live
in one. They would rather have a house. I like the tent because it is a reminder of the truth that
we all will one day move out of current residences and into our permanent home in heaven.
Where we live now is in one sense a tent. That is what Paul calls.our body, which will one day
be destroyed. Until then we look forward to the building we have that is from God, “an eternal
house in heaven, not built by human hands” (5:1). A tent over a grave is a vivid picture of this
truth. It serves as a reminder that we will leave the earthly tent behind for the home we have in
heaven.
All that is around us is temporary, even our aches and pains. Rejoice that one day you will move
out of the tent and into the house, the one prepared for you by God.
Woodrow Kroll & Tony Beckett
www.backtothebible.in