December 16, 2016 A NEW BODY AWAITS US
1 Corinthians 15:42-44: “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” Verse 49: “And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”
Because we are human beings living in a physical world, we are very familiar with sickness, disease, and limitations of our physical bodies, and thus we may fail to have the truth of theses verses as a basic view of life. God has a grand and glorious scheme in the works, and it is so awesome that we may find it difficult to believe. By God’s design, the physical precedes the spiritual (verse 46); we are born perishable, but our destiny is to become imperishable. We tend to see death as final, and indeed it is the end of physical life, but death is the door that leads to immortality, or becoming imperishable, and when properly viewed, there is celebration in the death of the one who belongs to God. Certainly the death of a loved one is grievous, but the sting of death is taken away when we, as believers, understand and accept as true the plans of God concerning our death and resurrection. Just as an apple tree loaded with apples is much more glorious than a dead apple seed buried in the ground, so it will be with our resurrection. Because we are so accustomed to life in the physical, the idea of becoming spiritual beings may not sound that exciting, but if that is the case, it reveals how little we understand about being spiritual bodies. We have some clues in the Scriptures that give us insight as to what it will be like being a spiritual body. Before Jesus died on the cross, He knew the limitations of physical life, but He arose from the tomb as a spiritual body. And with His spiritual body, He appeared to His disciples (He did not use the door) and they recognized Him, He ate food, He could be touched, He carried on a conversation with His followers, and He could be anywhere in an instant. The plans God has for His people exceed our wildest imaginations, and when we see our physical life as just the beginning of what God has in store for us, we are much better equipped to deal with the setbacks and limitations of life in the physical. Let it be understand however, that God does make provision for our life in the physical and He enables us to become overcomers in the here and now. It is a healthy view to see life as a training ground where we encounter various trails as a means of preparing us for eternal life where we reign with Him. Let us not be surprised by or discouraged by the physical challenges that are part of life, but let us view this life as a precursor to a life that will be absolutely fabulous. Soon, and very soon, those who know the Lord will indeed “bear the image of the heavenly.”
I Corinthians 15:52: “In as moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
Blessings,
Buddy
December 16, 2016 A NEW BODY AWAITS US
1 Corinthians 15:42-44: “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” Verse 49: “And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”
Because we are human beings living in a physical world, we are very familiar with sickness, disease, and limitations of our physical bodies, and thus we may fail to have the truth of theses verses as a basic view of life. God has a grand and glorious scheme in the works, and it is so awesome that we may find it difficult to believe. By God’s design, the physical precedes the spiritual (verse 46); we are born perishable, but our destiny is to become imperishable. We tend to see death as final, and indeed it is the end of physical life, but death is the door that leads to immortality, or becoming imperishable, and when properly viewed, there is celebration in the death of the one who belongs to God. Certainly the death of a loved one is grievous, but the sting of death is taken away when we, as believers, understand and accept as true the plans of God concerning our death and resurrection. Just as an apple tree loaded with apples is much more glorious than a dead apple seed buried in the ground, so it will be with our resurrection. Because we are so accustomed to life in the physical, the idea of becoming spiritual beings may not sound that exciting, but if that is the case, it reveals how little we understand about being spiritual bodies. We have some clues in the Scriptures that give us insight as to what it will be like being a spiritual body. Before Jesus died on the cross, He knew the limitations of physical life, but He arose from the tomb as a spiritual body. And with His spiritual body, He appeared to His disciples (He did not use the door) and they recognized Him, He ate food, He could be touched, He carried on a conversation with His followers, and He could be anywhere in an instant. The plans God has for His people exceed our wildest imaginations, and when we see our physical life as just the beginning of what God has in store for us, we are much better equipped to deal with the setbacks and limitations of life in the physical. Let it be understand however, that God does make provision for our life in the physical and He enables us to become overcomers in the here and now. It is a healthy view to see life as a training ground where we encounter various trails as a means of preparing us for eternal life where we reign with Him. Let us not be surprised by or discouraged by the physical challenges that are part of life, but let us view this life as a precursor to a life that will be absolutely fabulous. Soon, and very soon, those who know the Lord will indeed “bear the image of the heavenly.”
I Corinthians 15:52: “In as moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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