Have you ever thought about what your resurrection body will look like? I have, but I can’t even begin to imagine. I like how Paul describes it. The example of a seed planted in the ground is a genius analogy. But what really got me was “Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have.” God’s creation is so amazing to witness a simple seed turning into a magnificent flowering bush. Exactly what God intended!
I think my resurrection body is going to be like that. It’s going to look exactly how God wants me to look. And my new body won’t have aches and pains or ever grow old and die. I remember thinking about this text when my mom died years ago. Her earthly body had been ravaged by the lingering effects of having polio as a child and then by cancer before she died. I knew she was in for a treat when she received her resurrection body! We all have that to look forward to.
Paul knew this whole idea of resurrecting the dead was perplexing to the Corinthians. It’s hard to believe in something when you have a hard time wrapping your head around it. Trouble is — our ability to imagine and understand God’s ways are limited. We can’t even begin to comprehend the majesty of God’s creation. I continue to marvel at the strides we’ve been making in the scientific community to uncover some of these truths that have been hidden up to now. What are some things that you marvel at?
It’s easy, but not pleasant, for us to witness death. It is inevitable and will happen to all of us. We probably have all known someone who has died. It’s a huge leap of faith to go from the funeral to the resurrection and understand how it all works. These early Christians were appalled to think that a dead body could suddenly have life again. Paul wanted them to expand their minds and realize a resurrection body was a spiritual body, made perfect by God himself.
For believers, death is not final. It’s no wonder that death is feared greatly by those who don’t share in the faith we know. For them, death may be the end. Again, that is up to God’s grace. We know from spending time in God’s word that Jesus is the only way to spend eternity with God. We don’t need to fear death, even if it is still unknown to us how it all works.
What I am most excited about is the transformation to be more Christlike. “Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.” This heavenly man is Jesus Christ. We do our best in this world to take on the characteristics of Jesus so we can be better followers attracting others to Jesus’ message of love and forgiveness. Our heavenly bodies will be an immediate transformation to be more like Jesus. Hallelujah!
What questions do you have? Does this text help give you the assurance that a spiritual body will be waiting for you one day? Talk with God about any doubts you have and ask him for his peace.
Let’s pray …
Father God, it’s hard to truly fathom what happens when we die. Thank you for the way to eternal life you have made for us in sending Jesus. Help me to trust you completely, even though I don’t have a full understanding of how it works. I thank you for the promises in your word I can put my faith in. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
