Earthly Bodies and Heavenly Bodies
by Joel Hendon(13)I often find myself in a good-natured discussion with someone concerning man's condition in the by and by. I'll be the first to admit that I cannot comprehend any state separate from the physical being. But I will argue you down that the physical body, such as we have right now, will not be our abode in the hereafter.
First of all, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:40 this: There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. (NASV)
Then in 1 Corinthians 15:50;
Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. (NASV)'Nuff' said. So what will we be?
Let's let Paul continue with his views, in verses 52 through 54:
It is my contention that those of us who die before the return of Jesus comes, will never again be seen in this flesh and blood body. Why should we? Why would God round up all the molecules of dirt, ashes, etc and rebuild this old body for us just so he could change us? No, flesh and blood will all be discarded by us and we will be something far greater...not physical, but spiritual!!
Let us get one more viewpoint, which is John's, in 1 John 3:2-3; "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."
With all this, we can see for sure that we will be the same type being as is God! And we know that God is a spirit. This answers some of the questions. Now if we can only determine just what a spirit is. My feeble concept of a spirit is a mentality, a mind if you will, the intellect. And you may ask, how can an intellect function or even survive outside a human brain? Well, I don't know the answer to that. But I believe that God can arrange that. How can we see without eyes? God is the light and I believe that he can arrange that, too. Without a physical body, there will be no physical pain...there's nothing to hurt. Without a physical body, there is no need for food...you couldn't eat it if you tried. You see, with the absence of the physical body, all the lusts of the flesh will cease. In the absence of the flesh, there will be nothing to give forth pain, fatigue, cold sensations, heat sensations, and on and on.
What dies? The physical being dies. When God said in Genesis 1:26 "And God Said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness." He had reference to the Spirit of man. God is not physical, so He could not have meant in the physical likeness of Himself. It is this spirit in man which does not decay, is immortal and will live forever. Where is his choice.
"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding". (Isaiah 40:28)
Webgazine Columnist.
Article submitted Wednesday, March 25, 2009 & read 887 times.
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"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding". (Isaiah 40:28)
Webgazine Columnist.
Article submitted Wednesday, March 25, 2009 & read 887 times.
Leave Your Comments:
» left by Teresa (1,504)(351 days 3 hours ago.)
Hi Joel, Amen and Amen. Well layed out and well said. I am so glad, that I won't have this body of sin and weakness and I am healthy. What a blessings those in Christ who have painful sufferings in this tent. Thank you for sharing this. I know it will encourage many to think past this life. Blessings! TeresaRespond to this comment
» left by Joel Hendon (351 days 2 hours ago.)
Thanks for the kind words, Teresa. I am spending far too much of my time writingarticles for Webgazine. Not that I don't want to, but I feel compelled to write some about Jesus and His coming.
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