Friday, November 20, 2015
Philippians 3:21 He will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
IN THE RESURRECTION WE'LL HAVE NEW AND PERFECT BODIES
Visited the dentist lately? Probably so if you're careful about maintaining healthy teeth. What about the eye doctor? Again, probably so if you want to maintain healthy eyes or if you've been having difficulty seeing things up close or far away. Even if you're blessed with a good set of choppers and terrific 20/20 vision, you need to make periodic appointments with the doctor, don't you, to maintain decent health. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help control a health deficiency like high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
The reason for each physical malady we suffer is that we live in a world that's no longer in its pristine state. From the time that Adam and Eve broke God's command about the forbidden fruit, sin's debilitating effects have been in evidence. Part of the adverse effects brought on by the fall into sin is that our bodies are subject to all kinds of medical ailments, and eventually death.
It's hard to picture, but the time is coming when this will no longer be. When Christ returns on the Last Day He will resurrect our lifeless bodies. He will cause the bodies of His believers to undergo a dramatic change. True enough, now we all bear the imperfect fallen image of Adam. We have aches and pains to put up with. We get tired. Then we shall bear the holy image of Jesus. Gone with be the aches and pains. There will be no growing weary. Our bodies will forever young, vibrant, full of energy. No one will wear glasses. None will sport dentures or false teeth. There will be no medicines dispensed by pharmacies. Our bodies will remain in mint condition, as God intended them to be from the start. "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2).
All men living are but mortal, Yea, all flesh must fade as grass;
Only through death's gloomy portal To eternal life we pass.
This frail body here must perish Ere the heavenly joys it cherish,
Ere it gain the free reward For the ransomed of the Lord.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 601:1)
