August 24, 2019
Everyone in this life deals with the aches and pains and diseases and weaknesses of their physical body. We pray for those we know who are in deep physical distress. We mourn those who are dying. We fear physical loss. It is seen by most as their greatest enemy. Death is the one thing we cannot escape.
But for the believer, our physical deterioration is a sign of better things to come. Like a dying seed that produces new life, so the death of this physical body is the entrance to something glorious, as Paul speaks about in 1 Corinthians 15.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body;
43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;
44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
45 So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.
47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.
49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.
Notice the contrasts. In every single dimension, the thing we fear becomes the thing we long for.
Hallelujah that, not only is their nothing to fear in death, there is everything to gain! Death is the portal to all that we long for, all that we desire, because of the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior and His gift of eternal life to all who believe!
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