What's a body to do?

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Job 37:1–39:30 
2 Corinthians 4:13–5:10 
Psalm 44:9-26 
Proverbs 22:13

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

2 Corinthians 5:4 (NLT) "While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Our Verse for Today touches on the subject matter that is also addressed in 1 Corinthians 15. It focuses on the fact that we aren't simply spirits - we are also bodies.

Some folks erroneously think that our bodies are simply a temporary part of us. They suspect that when they die, their spirit will ascend to the Lord's presence and they will never have a use for their body again.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Our bodies are essential for at least two reasons:

First, they enable us to experience sensation. A spirit has no tongue and taste buds to enjoy delicious foods that will be a part of our heavenly experience. A spirit doesn't have a nose with which to smell the heavenly aromas. A spirit doesn't have the ability to touch and be touched to enjoy connectedness with others. Neither does it have eyes or ears to enjoy the sights and sounds of Heaven. So, our bodies are not incidental - they are absolutely essential to experience Heaven.

Second, our bodies are not made for some "spiritual" Heaven. Our bodies remind us of Genesis 1-2 where Adam was made from the earth. Clearly, we are made to exist on a planet with real dirt. So, it's no surprise when we read the last two chapters of Revelation and realize that our final heavenly home is "a new heaven and a new earth" (Revelation 21:1).

If you read our Verse for Today, Paul was saying that he didn't want to be finally rid of his body. While his physical body was decimated by the beatings, stoning, and many other horrible things he had endured, he desperately wanted a body to enjoy for eternity.

2 Corinthians 5:4 (NLT) "While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life."

If you will read through 1 Corinthians 15, you will hear the Lord (through the Apostle Paul's pen) state that our present bodies will one day be supernaturally resurrected and turned into our eternal bodies. They will be remarkably similar to what we have now but incredibly better. And with those new bodies, we will be able to experience the sensations of Heaven as we walk the New Earth.

How incredible is it going to be? Well, when you get to the final chapter of the Bible as the Apostle John had been writing about the New Earth, he couldn't help himself. He got so excited that his heart cried out, "Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 20:20). He was ready for Jesus to take him home right then and there.

If we properly understand Heaven and what it will be like, we will live our life to the fullest but also crave for the day that our Lord calls us home!

Heaven will not be a long church service! (---Sigh of relief!---)

I'll have to admit that the thought of Heaven wasn't too attractive to me as a young child.

Of course, I understood that Hell needed to be avoided for obvious reasons. But, Heaven ... well ... what's so great about a long worship service that never, ever, ever, ever ends? I've been in some worship services that only lasted an hour or so but they felt like eternity. Imagine them actually lasting for eternity! Ugh!

Then, God revealed some truths to me in His Word. I realized that while Heaven is a literal place, it's really about the relationship. I came to realize on a very deep level that God made me for Himself and my ultimate joy could be found in relationship with Him (adapted from St. Augustine). The sheer, incomprehensible joy of Heaven will be found in satisfying our longings by getting caught up in the incredible presence of God and experiencing His goodness to us.

Further, I came to realize that Heaven is in fact a literal place. It's not some 'spiritual' place 'out there' somewhere. It's a literal, physical locality as real (more real!) than our present life experience. It hit me that Heaven was going to be on a brand new earth with new stars, sun(s), moon(s) and whatever else God chooses to put in outer space for us to admire from the new earth. (Revelation 21-22 describes this place.)

This morning, I was reminded that there's coming a day when God will destroy everything with fire. This earth. Our sun. Our moon. The stars. The other galaxies. Whatever is out there, it's going to be toast. But, in its place, God is going to recreate a new earth with all of the stars and whatever else He chooses to put in outer space. That will be our new "Heaven" that we will inhabit forever.

2 Peter 3:11-13 (New Living Translation)
"Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness."

What will it be like to live on an earth inhabited by folks who love each other and love God? What will it be like to have no need for keys (no one will steal from others)? What will it be like to go for hikes with no fear of being attacked by wild animals? What will it be like to enjoy work and leisure with absolutely no anxiety? What will it be like to satisfy our deepest longings as we enjoy our God? What will it be like to never, ever experience the guilt or consequences of sin?

I can't wait to find out!!!