2 Corinthians 5 speaks of what it means to live for Jesus. A future awaits those who are in Christ, and this sermon encourages us to set our minds on things above. We must live our lives with the future in mind.

In this sermon, we learn that our earthly bodies are temporary, like a tent, and will be replaced with a permanent, celestial body in heaven. This new body will be incorruptible, glorious, and powerful, perfectly reflecting Jesus. Until then, we groan for glory, longing for the day when mortality is swallowed up by life. The Holy Spirit within us is a guarantee of this future hope.

We are encouraged to live by faith, not by sight, and to focus on pleasing God rather than people. Our aim should be to live for Jesus, recognizing that He died for all so that we might live for Him. This means surrendering to Him, devoting ourselves to His purpose, and giving our lives away for the kingdom.

We are also reminded that we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, not to determine our salvation, but to receive rewards based on our faithfulness. This should instill in us a healthy fear and motivate us to examine our lives, making corrections where needed. We are called to be faithful stewards of the skills, abilities, motivations, opportunities, and responsibilities that God has given us.

Furthermore, we are a new creation in Christ, and the old has passed away while the new has come. We should regard others according to the Spirit, recognizing their eternal value and seeing them as God sees them. We are given the ministry of reconciliation, to call back into union and friendship those who have been alienated from God. We are ambassadors for Christ, pleading with the world to be reconciled to God, sharing the good news that Jesus paid the price for our sins.

Let us live in the light of eternity, knowing that we have a glorious future with new bodies, a judgment to come, a new creation in Christ, and a ministry of reconciliation to fulfill. May God give us success in our mission to share the message of reconciliation and live for Him.