“Swallowed up by Life”

What is the purpose of life? Who are you? Why are you here? How did you get here? Where are you going? What are you supposed to be doing while you’re here? Those “basic questions” have puzzled and tantalized people throughout the ages and most people never find the answers because they are looking in the wrong place. But God gives us answers in Scripture. There are many “purpose statements” in various places in scripture. One of the clearest and one of my favorites is in 2 Corinthians 5:4 ESV “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.”

The Greek word is katapino and it means “to drink down, i.e. gulp entire (literally or figuratively).” The reference is Isaiah 25:8 ESV “He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces.”

Death is the entry into eternal life. We will no longer be “pilgrims and strangers”; we will be “home at last”!

“Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose. . . .” That’s why God created you in the first place, to share the glories of eternal life with you in fellowship with Him and with those whom you love. Jesus prayed to the Father, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3

The Westminster Catechism has it right: “What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever!” Let’s do both–right now!

2 Corinthians 5:1-9 ESV

For we know that if the tent, which 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. [NIV: He has “made us for this very purpose.”]

[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.

[What is your ambition in life? Always to “please Him”? Ironically, that’s where you will find true happiness–as a by-product of pleasing Him, you will “please” yourself! That’s just another example of God’s grace! But if you focus on yourself, you will never find true happiness or “fulness of joy”–which is what Jesus prayed for His disciples: “so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” John 17:13 NIV]