A couple of weeks ago, we were privileged to attend The Navigators’ Senior Staff Conference. A friend thought we would be with Navigator senior leadership. Nope. These Navigators are “seasoned citizens” – at age 75, we were among the younger people there!

Our theme was “Celebrating God” (two sessions) and “Celebrating Each Other” (two sessions), and the closing session was about heaven – a place many of the 200 of us will be sooner rather than later. I was struck by this verse, quoted by our first plenary speaker, and part of my recent readings:

For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (2 Corinthians 5.4, ESV)

“What is mortal may be swallowed up by life.” Not swallowed up by death! But by life. As I heard Howard Hendricks say:

People think we’re in the land of the living heading for the land of the dying. Nothing could be further from the truth! We’re in the land of the dying, heading for the land of the living.

Earlier passages in 2 Corinthians affirm and encourage, especially as I was around a lot of Navigator friends and role models who are, well, older than they used to be! (As are we.)

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. (2 Corinthians 3.17 – 4.1, ESV)

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4.16 – 18, ESV)