5:1
This is another example of “ignore the chapter divisions”, for the thought expressed here follows on directly from what has been said at the end of chapter 4. Why can Paul consider death with such equanimity (though it is important to note that he does not consider death to be of no consequence). The “earthly tent” is a reference to the body. Now this body might be destroyed, indeed one day it certainly will, but that might happen before we die of old age. If it does happen we have an “eternal house in heaven”, “not built by human hands”. “House” probably also refers to the resurrection body. We should note the phrase “eternal house in heaven”. There are some who delight in saying that the gospel is not all about “going to heaven”, and this is true, but it is partly about “going to heaven”. It is also about a new heaven and a new earth. We need to take the gospel and eternity in all its context, in its entirety, and not treat one aspect at the expense of another.
So, life after death, and a wonderful life after death, changes the way we think about life now. It does not mean we give up on, or don’t care about life now, it means we live it with all the greater determination, and are prepared to take more risks.
5:2,3
But we have to live this life now, we have to live while being in this mortal body. So what does Paul say about that? One of the things we do is groan! It is not about “your best life now”, our best life is to come, and there is an element of this life that involves groaning! That comes in the hard work and the suffering we have to endure, and in a desire for something far greater than we can possibly experience in this body. Again, we need balance. This is not the sum total of teaching on this life now, it is part of it. There are many blessings and triumphs in this life. We need a rounded view of life, and part of that is longing for “our heavenly dwelling”. “Not found naked” may be a way of saying that death is not the end.
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