2. For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord-- for we walk by faith, not by sight-- we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

3. “We’ve got to go home!”

4. As long as we are here upon earth – we are absent from the Lord!

5. The Great Men of Faith Always Kept This In Mind

6. Abraham By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God…..All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

7. “by faith he went out not knowing where he was going” “he sojourned…as in a foreign land” “having seen them afar…embraced them” “looking for a better, that is a heavenly country”

8. Moses ….when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.

9. visionary “unusual competence in discernment or perception, intelligent foresight”

10. “He who prepared us for this very purpose is God” What Purpose?

11. Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones.

12. “Knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord”

13. “At home in the body” As long as we are content, thrilled or happy to be in this temporal body, we can’t be with God!

14. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.

15. “We prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.”

16. “Therefore we also have as our ambition…” “an eager or strong desire to achieve something”

17. “Therefore we also have as our ambition… To be pleasing to Him.”

18. 2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

19. Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

20. Col. 3:2 (The Message) So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it

21. “We’ve got to go home”

22. “If we miss heaven, we’ve missed all there is.”

23. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.