We live in a fearful time: a pandemic stalks the world and crime is exploding in American streets. And to make matters worse, many politicians are trying to take advantage of such fears, stoking the fires of our political disagreements to push their pet agendas. And as long as we think this world is all there is or all that matters, we will remain hostage to our fears and to their manipulations.

But there is another way. For Paul reminds us that one day, no matter how successful or oppressed we might seem to be in the eyes of our peers, this worldly life will end. But even this is not a reason for fear – for when we die, those who belong to Christ will be at home with the Lord (v. 8). And when Christ returns, our mortal bodies that are now so susceptible to sickness will be swallowed up by life, replaced with one that is eternal in the heavens (v. 1).

Moreover, those who belong to Christ don’t have to wait for Resurrection Day to begin living this new life. For Christ has given the Holy Spirit to all who trust in Him as a downpayment, a guarantee that we will indeed live with Him forever (v. 5). And the Spirit of God is remaking all God’s people into the image of Christ, to such an extent that each of us has already become a new creation – for us everything old has already passed away, and everything new has already come (v. 17). And from such a new, eternal, Christ-centered perspective, so many of things that worldly people fear simply don’t matter very much at all.

But because the day of Christ’s return will also be a day of judgment, there continues to be a very real reason for fear, at least for those who have not yet been reconciled to Him, for those who in their focus on the things of this world continue to rebel against Him. And that is why Paul says he wants to go on living in this world – not to gain the transitory comfort and wealth it can offer, but to urge everyone to be reconciled to God (v. 20).

And all those who have gained the same kind of heavenly perspective, all those who have been filled with the Spirit of Christ have the same mission – to announce to the world the astounding truth that Jesus took all our sin upon Himself so that all who trust in Him might receive not just His forgiveness, but His righteousness (v. 21). Isn’t that so much more important, so much more permanent than all those worldly fears and desires?

II Corinthians 5:1-21 (ESV)

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,
3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.
4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened– not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.
13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.