1 Cor 15:54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
When I was young I thought I might want to keep my current physical body when I got to heaven. I mean, it wasn’t in that bad a shape. Everything worked the way it was supposed to work. I was fairly healthy, after all.
But now as I am getting older, I think a new body might be nice. There are a few aches and pains that never seem to go away that would easily go on the list of “things I don’t want in my heavenly body.” There are a couple of pills it would be nice to not have to swallow every day.
Well, Me, I have good news! You have an earthly body. Someday your earthly body will die. And when you are issued your new body, it won’t be anything like your present body. All the things on that list, won’t be there.
But what is it going to be like, this new heavenly body? Well, Jesus is the only example we have. His body after the Resurrection was able to appear in rooms with the doors locked. Physical walls didn’t matter to Him. He could just as easily disappear. Well, travel will certainly be easier. No more waiting in line for a TSA security check!
Jesus was also able to eat. Now this change I like. The joy of fellowship with others around a table is one of the eternal joys that will remain. I’m not talking about an endless buffet without gaining weight, rather I am talking about eating delicious food in the company of eternal friends. That sounds worthy dying for!
As I get older and my peers begin dying off and I am the only one left, it is going to get lonely. That is one of the most difficult things about growing older. The older you get, the fewer peers you have. These are the people who have the common experiences with you. They are the ones to whom you best relate. And they die off, or you die off.
We who are left begin to long for eternity more than for this life. We pray for death so that we can be reunited with those we love and have lost. We pray for relief from the pains and concerns of this life, just as much as we used to long for summer vacation as a kid, probably even more so. We want relief and it is just on the horizon.
All that is bad will be gone. No more rotting anything. It will all be imperishable. Death itself will die. It will have served its purpose and be sent to the relics of history exhibit. Instead, we will experience life fully for the first time. We have had glimpses of this life to come in the life we currently live, but only glimpses.
Life is coming!
The Arnold Journey 