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Spiritual Renovations



            In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul reminds his readers that this world is our not our home and that our real citizenship is in heaven.  He goes on, then, to outline some of the changes that should be obvious in us because of that truth.
            First he states that “We live by faith, not by sight” (verse 7).  In other words, we believe that there is more going on than what we see or understand.  Without a belief in the supernatural, there is no chance that anything spiritual will grow in us.  This attitude is the basis for, and the launching pad of, everything else.
            Next he says that “Since we know what it is to fear God, we try to persuade men” (verse 11).  If we really believe what we believe, if we think it is truly valuable and necessary, we have to share it with others.  Salvation is not just about me.  Rather, the gospel is about God saving the world.  We must be part of that bigger story.
            He then shares his motivation for all of this when states that “Christ’s love compels us” (verse 14).  We can be motivated by all kind of other things (guilt, duty, obligation, etc.), but love is the only thing that will produce the proper result.  We can serve God out of other motives, but it will not feel the same in the end.
            “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view” (verse 16).  Love, as it always does, made him see people differently.  It is easy to label people when you do not know them.  The challenge is to love people long enough that you start to see them through new and better eyes.
            Lastly, Paul says that we ought to see ourselves differently too: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (verse 20).  Paul understood that he was not here for himself.  He was here to share God’s blessings with others.
            Now, let me be clear that none of these changes in Paul’s thoughts or actions were done to earn anything.  In fact, he ends this whole passage by reminding them that, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (verse 21).  The gift of God’s grace is provided from the start.  The changes that Paul talks about are all in response to what we have already been given in Christ.
            In summary, Paul says that people with a heavenly home live differently here.  They believe, love, give, help, encourage, sacrifice and hope. 
            Who would not want to be part of something like that?

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