I am recently involved with many families grieving the death of loved ones. It is so difficult for each to reconcile the earthly loss of companionship, affection and love that will accompany them until they are reunited in heaven with loved ones in Christ. One assurance I can offer is that God has a new body awaiting that will never wear out, experience pain (like we feel here), or even shed tears. If you’ve ever been alongside someone suffering the affects of cancer or other debilitating disease, you know how horrible it is as people become a shell of what they once were- vibrant, strong, etc. Oh, how wonderful the new body will be- the apostle Paul says “Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies.” We will all have our own bodies, but it will be as God wants it to be: permanent, glorious, powerful, spiritual!
But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. 1 Corinthians 15:35-38a NLT
How am I taking care of the body I now have? Am I using it for God’s glory? Who is suffering that needs the hope of the body that comes next?
God, as this day begins- please be very real and close with all who are hurting as they grieve the death of family members and friends. Help me and our pastoral staff be a comfort and source of hope and truth. Thank you for the body to come!
