Just like a seed has to die in order to grow into something useful, we have to die to sin before we can grow in the Lord.
As well, if we have Holy Spirit in us, when our earthly bodies pass away, we will receive glorified spiritual bodies in heaven...
(1 Corinthians 15:35-49) But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” 36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; 37 and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.
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.
And just like the angels, our heavenly bodies will be imperishable...
(1 Corinthians 15:50-58) Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
From this we see:
- there are earthly bodies and there are heavenly bodies (1 Cor.15:40)
- just like the angels, our heavenly bodies will be imperishable (1 Cor.15:52)
- believers will receive their imperishable bodies at the rapture (1 Cor.15:52)
Personal experience: I have heard various friends and family members mention that they didn't want to be cremated or scattered about after death because then at the rapture they would not have a body.
Well, here we can clearly see and understand that all believers will be leaving behind their earthly bodies anyway and receiving much, much, MUCH better ones!!!
My earthly body is merely a vehicle for me to get around in right now. Although because this is a resource that God has given to me to use, I want to be a good steward and try to be as healthy and in shape as I can. But my priority is my spirit and soul which is the essence of who I am.
Today's takeaway: it is just like we cannot take our earthly possessions with us, so we should be storing up our treasures in heaven. We cannot take our earthly bodies with us, so we need to be working on the "inside" - to be more Christ-like...
(1 Peter 3:3-4) Your adornment must not be merely external... 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
(Epheisians 5:1-5) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
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