He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. – 2 Corinthians 5:5
Do you know what God is preparing you for? What comes to mind? You may consider a particular occupation or ministry. Or perhaps you think about your family’s future. Or you may think about the way He works through hardships to perfect your character. Though God does prepare you for these earthly things, today’s verse refers to life after death when “what is mortal may be swallowed up by life” (2 Corinthians 5:4).
You are being prepared for life after death. Paul said you can be encouraged that you are being prepared for eternal life with God (2 Corinthians 4:17). On earth, the believer’s purpose is to please God in whatever they do. Paul speaks of a day of judgment, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he had done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Though deeds will be judged, the eternal soul is saved in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:15). Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:19, “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.” The heart’s cry of a Christian toward others is “be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Focus on pleasing God here on earth, while placing your hope in being with Him for eternity. Give God thanks for the promise of eternal life in Christ. Pray for citizens and governing officials alike to be reconciled to God. Pray for His help to do your part in sharing Christ’s love with others.
Today’s Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:5
He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Ephesians 2:1-10
2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
