Today’s Post By: Rae Lynn DeAngelis

Eager to expose our kids to a simpler life, we purchased a tent and other essential gear and set out on a camping adventure.

We decided to “rough it” at a secluded primitive campground.  Primitive indeed! No water. No electricity. Unless, of course, you count the deluge and light show during our weekend long thunderstorm. Note to self: The fun factor greatly diminishes when you are camping in the rain.

We thought we had adequately prepared for everything, only to realize we had forgotten a very basic measure – waterproofing our tent.

By the next morning, we were soaked to the bone. We got in our car (the only dry place we could find), and tried to wait it out, but after a few hours, our patience ran out. With no end in sight, we finally gave up and went home.

Thankfully, the trip was not a total loss. The experience provided some valuable lessons for our future camping adventures.

Lesson #1 – air mattresses double as flotation devices.

Lesson #2 – taking down your tent in the rain but forgetting to air it out later is a big no, no.

Lesson #3 – camping is a lot more fun in an air conditioned camper with running water, electricity, and portable potty.

You will be happy to know the following year we traded-in our tent poles for a pop-up camper.

So much for primitive camping!

“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” (2 Corinthians 5:1)

Our little camping adventure reminds me that, like a leaky tent, our earthly body is ill equipped to withstand the elements of living a broken world. Disease, infection, arthritis, virus, cancer, and organ failure are just a few of the unpredictable conditions plaguing our mortal existence.

But thankfully, we can take heart. There is hope! We who trust in Jesus have an anchor our soul, firm and secure. As our spirit slips from this world and into the next, God gives us a new and perfect body void of pain and disease. It is only when we leave this earthly tent that we will we experience that which we were created to enjoy. No more tears. No more suffering. No more disease. No more pain.

Truly, a life worth dying for!

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:3-5)