DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A GLORIOUS FUTURE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A GLORIOUS FUTURE

"As we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly man." (I Corinthians 15:49)

The Apostle Paul was answering the question that some were asking: "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" (vs. 35). By revelation of the Holy Spirit, he gives some illustrations from nature –the seed that was sown in the field, different kinds of bodies for different creatures, and the difference of the celestial bodies of the sun and the moon. That is, they will be different than our human bodies. We are created with natural bodies that reflect the image of Adam. But our resurrected bodies will reflect the image of Jesus.

So what will that body be like? Paul says that our worldly fleshly bodies are subject to corruption; the new body will be incorruptible. Our current bodies are dishonorable – not because God created them that way, but because of sin. Our bodies in this world are weak, but the new bodies will be powerful. We have a natural body, but the resurrected body will be spiritual.

We get a glimpse of the new body in the transformation Jesus had on the Mount of Transfiguration. The record says that "He was transfigured before them" (Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:2). The word "transfigured" is a translation from the Greek is metamorphoo, and it means to change, to transform, to transfigure. It is like the metamorphosis, the change, of a butterfly from a cocoon. The testimony is that in His transfiguration, His face shined like the sun, and His clothes were exceedingly white as the light, brighter than any laundry could get them.

What a glorious future awaits us! God has great things in store for us, including a new body that will never suffer the weakness of sickness and that will never be corrupted and die. We cannot fully grasp what it will be like. As it is written, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (I Corinthians 2:9). Now we see through a glass dimly. We only know in part, but then face to face (I Corinthians 13:12). As the Apostle John wrote, "It has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (I John 3:2). I wouldn't miss it for the world! Hallelujah!

Love, Dad