Greetings Upward-moving Saints and Friends,
​“Look, Honey. It’s an advertisement to take a luxurious cruise to many of the places the Apostle Paul went on his missionary journeys.” “We should be able to afford that cruise, if they are using one of the ships Paul sailed on. Ha-ha!” “I would imagine any ship the Apostle Paul sailed on is not in use these days.” “Where are some of the places that the Apostle Paul sailed to?” “According to the Bible, he went to a number of places throughout the Mediterranean world like Corinth, Ephesus, Caesarea, Thessalonica, and Greece.” “Pastor Harold said God used Paul to write most of the books in the New Testament.” “Well maybe Paul sailed to those places on book-signing tours. Ha-ha!” “No! The books are actually letters that Paul wrote to churches and individuals.” “Did Paul visit a number of churches while traveling?” “He not only visited churches, but Paul had the distinct privilege of starting at least fourteen churches, training responsible church leaders, and seeing many people grow in Christ in big ways.” “That must have meant a great deal to him, to see the fruit of his labor.” “I’m sure it did. After all, from the time that God called Paul to start serving Him, Paul traveled more than 10,000 miles by ship, horseback, and on foot.” “How could Paul afford to travel around so much? Was he independently wealthy?” “Traveling around in Paul’s day was nothing like traveling today. It was not pleasure cruises, sleigh rides, and nature trails. Traveling was hard work. Neither did Paul and his companions go around freeloading off church families. He had a strong work ethic for able-bodied men. Paul stated in a letter to the Thessalonian church: ‘For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.’ 2 Thessalonians 3:10 Paul was not only a hard-working religious leader, but he also had a secular profession. Paul was a tent-maker.” “He was?” “Yes. He made and repaired tents. While ministering in the city of Corinth, Paul stayed and worked with a couple of Jewish tent-makers named Priscilla and Aquila. Obviously, people were well aware of tents during that time and there was a great need for them to be made and repaired.
A number of homes were actually tents. Shepherds and travelers would make use of tents. The Roman military also had a great use for tents for their legions of soldiers, supplies, and other needs. People were so familiar with tents, Paul said it’s as if ‘we ourselves’ live in a tent. These bodies of ours are just temporary housing for our souls. The real you, which is longing for our permanent home in heaven, knows this physical tent of a body is temporary.” 2 Corinthians 5:2
“I agree. On those days when my joints ache or I can’t find my glasses to see what I’m looking for, I say to myself, ‘I’m wearing out – I need a new body!’” “Have heart, Dear. Paul said, ‘For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.’
2 Corinthians 5:1 When Paul wrote his second letter to the Corinthian church, he encouraged them – and us – about a wonderful truth concerning heaven and our eternal bodies. Paul could sympathize with those who have aches and pains. He understood what it’s like to suffer in various ways in this world, as we anticipate the next. He wrote: ‘Five times I was whipped, three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned with rocks and left for dead. I’ve been shipwrecked, thrown in jail, sleepless, hungry, tired, run out of town, besides many other things.’” 2 Corinthians12 “Honey, what motivated Paul to travel to all of those cities, even though his human tent was so abused?” “It was not for the food, lights, and entertainment. That’s for sure. It was for the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus. For doing that, he suffered in many ways. But he knew the promises of God are true. Compared to a temporary tent, God has promised a permanent dwelling. An eternal body capable of doing supernatural things in our forever home – heaven. A body that is not made by human hands or of any earthly substance, but created by God, eternal in the heavens. Paul was ready to exchange his temporary achy patched-up tent for that permanent home in heaven that God has promised to all who trust in Jesus as their Savior.” “I’m thankful the Gospel that Paul shared is still true today. And anyone can pray: ‘Thank You, Jesus, for paying for my sins when You died and rose again. Help me to live for You, as I anticipate my forever home. Amen.’”