If our earthly tent is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
2 Corinthians 5:1, NIV
There’s a popular television series called This Is Us. While I haven’t watched the whole series, I’ve seen several clips that lingered with me. One in particular showed the mother, Rebecca, in the later stages of dementia. She was calling out for her husband, Miguel. In another scene, her adult children—Randall, Kevin, and Kate—were discussing her condition. One of them kept saying, “Miguel is no longer with us.” I found myself wondering: Where is Miguel? It wasn’t immediately apparent. Through further research, I learned that Miguel had died.
That moment reminded me of how often we use euphemisms to talk about death. Phrases like passed away, transitioned, resting in peace, crossed over, departed, slipped away, lost their battle, resting in God’s hands, or moved to their new home in glory are common in both secular and faith-based conversations. We often choose these expressions because they feel softer, less final. They help cushion the emotional weight of death, especially when grief is fresh or overwhelming.
There are psychological and social reasons to consider. Many people avoid the word death because it stirs deep fears—of the unknown, of separation, of loss. Euphemisms can help manage that anxiety. They also serve a communal purpose: preserving decorum, showing respect, and signaling empathy in moments when words feel inadequate.
I admit, I’ve used these phrases myself—sometimes out of habit, sometimes out of sensitivity to others. But over the past sixteen months, I’ve experienced four deaths: three in my immediate family—two nieces and a sister—and a dear friend. In speaking about their deaths, I have found myself using the word died with clarity and peace, not out of coldness but out of reverence. I’ve come to see death not as something to obscure but as a transition—a movement from this life into eternal life with Christ.
Scripture affirms this perspective. In 2 Corinthians 5:1, Paul writes, “If our earthly tent is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven.” Death, then, is not the end; it is a folding of the tent; one day, all believers will step into a home prepared by God.
Paul’s imagery is earthy and intimate. A tent is vulnerable: flimsy, weather-worn, temporary. It evokes pilgrimage, movement, and impermanence. But the promise? A building from God—not a tent patched by human efforts but a dwelling crafted by divine hands.
This verse invites us to see death not as an ending. Just as seasons change, so do our dwelling places. Winter gives way to spring. Earthly life gives way to eternal life.
The metaphor of the earthly tent in 2 Corinthians 5:1 beautifully captures the temporality of our physical bodies while pointing to the permanence of our eternal home. It’s a verse that invokes comfort and courage.
What tent imagery resonates with your life right now—fragility, movement, impermanence?
How might seeing death as temporary help you or your community face it with less fear and more faith and hope in the promises of Jesus Christ?
Talulah Ruger, RN, MSN (MACE, 2006), is a retired oncology nurse, Bible teacher, speaker, and writer. Talulah, the president and founder of Talulah Ruger Ministries, utilizes her extensive experience in vocational church ministry, combined with her teaching and speaking, to inspire and motivate others who are 50 and older to leverage their faith and life stories to mentor others for Christ. She teaches and trains women to use their gifts in ministry and develop meaningful relationships through spiritual mentoring. She also serves as an instructor at the Opened Bible Academy in Houston.