Tired Tents 破旧的帐篷

[Dexu Xia]

While we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened. 2 Corinthians 5:4

 “The tent is tired!” Those were the words of my friend Paul, who pastors a church in Nairobi, Kenya. Since 2015, the congregation has worshiped in a tentlike structure. Now, Paul writes, “Our tent is worn out and it is leaking when it rains.”

My friend’s words about their tent’s structural weaknesses remind us of the apostle Paul’s words regarding the frailty of our human existence. “Outwardly we are wasting away . . . . While we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened” (2 Corinthians 4:16; 5:4).

Though the awareness of our fragile human existence happens relatively early in life, we become more conscious of it as we age. Indeed, time picks our pockets. The vitality of youth surrenders reluctantly to the reality of aging (see Ecclesiastes 12:1–7). Our bodies—our tents—get tired.

But tired tents need not equate to tired trust. Hope and heart needn’t fade as we age. “Therefore we do not lose heart,” the apostle says (2 Corinthians 4:16). The One who has made our bodies has made Himself at home there through His Spirit. And when this body can no longer serve us, we’ll have a dwelling not subject to breaks and aches—we’ll “have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven” (5:1).

By:  Arthur Jackson

How does it make you feel that Christ resides in you by His Spirit (5:5)? When you find yourself “groaning,” how does prayer help you?

Father, thank You for Your continual presence. When I’m physically uncomfortable, help me to trust You even as I anticipate an eternal dwelling that will last forever.

我们在这帐篷里叹息劳苦。—哥林多后书5章4节

我的朋友保罗是肯尼亚奈洛比市一间教会的牧师，他说：“我们教会的帐篷已经破旧了！”自2015年以来，他们的教会就一直在帐篷状的建筑里聚会，敬拜上帝。现在保罗牧师写信告诉我：“我们的帐篷破旧不堪，下雨时还会漏水。”

我朋友提到了帐篷状建筑的损坏情况，使我想起使徒保罗在描述人类身体的脆弱时，也曾提到帐篷。他说：“我们外在的人日渐朽坏⋯⋯其实，我们在这帐篷里的人劳苦叹息。”（哥林多后书4章16节，5章4节，和合本修订版）

尽管我们很早就意识到人类身体的脆弱，但随着年龄增长，我们对此会有更深的体会。的确，时间偷走了青春年华，年轻的活力不得不屈服于衰老的现实（参阅传道书12章1-7节）。我们的身体（我们的帐篷）已经破旧衰败了。

但身体衰败不等于信心衰退，盼望和信心也不会随着年龄的增长而消退。正如使徒保罗说：“所以，我们不丧胆”（哥林多后书4章16节）。我们身体的创造主已藉着祂的灵住在我们里面。有一天，当这个身体停止运作时，我们将拥有一个不会损坏，也没有疼痛的“房屋”。圣经说：“我们这地上的帐篷若拆毁了，必得上帝所造，不是人手所造，在天上永存的房屋。”（5章1节）

作者：  简恩德

你如何感受到基督藉着祂的灵
住在你里面（5章5节）？
当你“叹息”时，祷告对你有什么帮助？

天父，感谢祢一直与我同在。当我身体衰败时，
请帮助我依然信靠祢，并期待那个永存的“房屋”。