The House Not Made With Hands

The House Not Made With Hands | 2 Cor 5:1-10 | Ian Goodman

The first question we must consider is “What is Paul referring to when he speaks of the house not made with hands?” Is he referring to the resurrection body, as many have suggested, or is he referring to that blessed state of believers immediately after leaving this body (tent) behind? I believe he is talking about the blessed state, known also as the intermediate state. The reason is because Paul is looking away from his earthy tent, that may be destroyed, and looking to heaven where a new tent is waiting. Paul seems convinced that he will receive this new dwelling immediately upon the destruction of his current earthly tent. It would seem then that this new building not made with hands is a reference to nothing other than heaven itself, and our happy accommodation there. The point seems to be that for the believer we will never be found homeless or naked but will move immediately into the glorious new home immediately upon death.
Secondly, we might ask, “Why does Paul long to go to this new home?” As he says, “for in this tent we groan, longing to put on the heavenly dwelling.” It might seem a silly question, but one worth considering. Did Paul just have no one who loved him and wanted him to live longer? Certainly, he did, many hundreds of people. So why did he want to go? He gives the reason in vs 8 “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
See no matter how much Paul loved the church, and those who loved him, no one had loved him as much as the Lord Jesus Christ. He longed for heaven because that is where his Saviour was waiting!
Finally, let’s consider vs 5 “He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” The number one question we need to ask ourselves is “Am I prepared to go to heaven?” And by this I don’t simply mean: Are you psychologically prepared? Rather I’m asking: Has God prepared you for heaven? Has He saved you, and justified you? Is He changing you, and shaping you? If not, then you are not prepared! But if you would call out to the Lord and place your faith in Christ, and repent of your sin, then God will prepare you for heaven; indeed, your willingness to call on Him for salvation is the very beginning of God’s work in your life.