Daily devotion – The blessing of new bodies
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”
— 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 (NKJV)
As the years pass, I’ve found myself reflecting on the relationships God has blessed me with—my wife, our children, our grandchildren, and the family of God where He has called us to serve. Sometimes I feel as though words and actions fall short in expressing the depth of my gratitude, joy, and love for those God has placed in my life through the covenant of marriage and the family of Christ.
Perhaps this growing emotional depth is due to my age, or perhaps it comes from my many years of walking with Christ. But with this increasing sense of love, I also understand more deeply why our mortal bodies must be transformed. As much as we may long to fully express our love for God and others, our earthly bodies and words are limited.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul speaks of this great mystery—that the mortal and corruptible bodies we now have must be replaced by immortal and incorruptible ones. And only then will we fully experience the glory that God has prepared for us. When the last trumpet sounds, we will be changed, and this corruptible body will put on incorruption, and this mortal body will be clothed in immortality. What an incredible promise!
This transformation isn’t just about gaining a new body. It’s about stepping into a life where all that is limited here on earth is perfected in Heaven. All the expressions of love, the joy, and the relationships we treasure now will be far superior and more wonderful than we can currently imagine.
Revelation 21:23-26 gives us a glimpse into the beauty and glory that awaits us in Heaven. There will be no need for the sun or the moon because the glory of God will illuminate everything. The Lamb, Jesus Christ, will be the light, and we will walk in that light forever. Nations will bring their honor and glory into this perfect city, and there will be no darkness at all.
Heaven will be a place where everything is better, more glorious, and more complete than anything we experience on earth. Our relationships, our worship, our love—all of it will reach its full expression. And we will live in the eternal light of God’s presence, never again hindered by the limitations of our mortal bodies.
How does the promise of being changed from mortal to immortal encourage you as you consider your relationships and your walk with Christ?
Let us hold on to this great hope: the day is coming when we will no longer be limited by the frailties of this life. We will be changed, and everything—our love, our worship, our very existence—will be transformed in the glorious presence of God.