Our Eternal Dwelling
Paul says that if the earthly tent is taken down, a building from God already awaits. The groaning of mortal life is not a wish for disembodiment, but a longing to be clothed with what God has prepared, with the Spirit already given as the pledge of that coming life.
F1or we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5And it is God who has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.
Therefore Paul says they are always confident: while at home in the body they are away from the Lord and so walk by faith rather than sight. Whether in the body or at home with the Lord, their aim is to please him, since all must appear before Christ's judgment seat.
6Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. 7For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we aspire to please Him, whether we are at home in this body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.