Living in a Tent (or a garage)

"For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ² Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, ³ because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 NIV

 I have been thinking of this house a lot lately. As the time comes closer for us to move into our house and out of our garage I have started to feel a little impatient and very eager. I love how Paul (in 2 Corinthians understood that feeling and compared it with us in our current bodies and how they are like a tent or some temporary home but we have prepared for us something so much better. 

  We tend to feel pretty satisfied with our earthly bodies and life here on earth when we are young and healthy but the truth is that life here is nothing to be compared with what is ahead. Living in a tent (or a garage) is so much harder than living in a nice house but even that analogy doesn't really compare with the difference between here and heaven. However this garage living is helping my to understand a little better then difference. I can see my home taking shape and I am very, very excited to be living in it. I don't see heaven but I do know the Master builder and He is a much, much better builder than any we have here. He also has prepared a place with no more sorrow or pain. That is going to be pretty wonderful!

 When I was looking at this scripture I found it in The Message too and I just so enjoyed reading it that I wanted to share it with you too. I have some sections bolded that I can so relate to the thoughts right now.

2 Corinthians 5 ^{1-5 "}For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less.

^6-8 That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.
^9-10 But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later we’ll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what’s coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad."