A key element of the New Testament, and in Paul's letters, is looking forward to what will happen in the future, either after we die or after Christ returns. Paul has just been talking about "light and momentary troubles", and this is from a man who was regularly beaten, thrown into prison, attacked in all sorts of ways. We need to have a proper focus on the future. This does not mean that we escape the present, but that we then live properly in the present, because we have a correct perspective on the future.
Our earthly bodies are dying and one day will be destroyed, but we have an eternal home in heaven. This is not an ephemeral place, but is very real. It is made by God, not by human hands. If you believe in Jesus your future is looking good.
So in this life there is always an element of groaning, of longing for something better. We receive many blessings from God now, but they are only an instalment on what we will receive in the future. There is an awareness that we are not all that we should be, that things are not all they should be. Paul makes several references to being unclothed. In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve were embarrassed by their nakedness after they had sinned. There are times when the sin that remains, our weaknesses and failings, embarrass us. We want to be perfectly Christlike now, but know that we are not. So we long for the mortal to be swallowed up by the eternal.
This is not a desire to die, but a desire to truly live. This longing is positive, for we have received the Holy Spirit and He is a guarantee of what is to come. We do experience change in our lives today, and this is wonderful. We do experience victory today, so we know that the promise of God is real and trustworthy.
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