1 Corinthians 15:53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
In today’s verse, we look at what will happen when we are resurrected. It is from a chapter in which Paul explains very thoroughly the subject of resurrection and is considered to be the most informative discourse on the topic. This was written in response to some in the Corinthian church who doubted the possibility of a physical resurrection and those who debated the bodies we might have on that day (1 Corinthians 15:35).
What we know for sure is that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50). We must undergo a change, a transformation from what we are now to what we will become. Earthly bodies are temporary and weak. They grow older, get sick, and eventually die. And heaven is eternal. The kingdom of God will never end. Therefore, our bodies must undergo transformation to be able to inherit it.
We will see the perishable – what decays and spoils, what dies and is no more – clothed with the imperishable – the incorruptible, ongoing, forevermore bodies. The perishable will be transformed into something permanent and pure. The mortal – that which is subject to death – will be transformed into the immortal – never ending, deathless, endless and indestructible.
It is interesting to note that Paul refers to this transformation as putting on something. The Greek verb he used is endysasthai which indicates that one is dressing or slipping into a new set of clothing. Thus, our physical existence as we know it now is not discarded but rather it is clothed in a new and beautiful spiritual reality, one that is holy, perfect, and glorified, modeled after Christ Himself.
What does this have to do with us now? How can it affect the way we live our lives out on this earthly terrain that will perish and pass away?
We should remember that our ultimate hope is not in trying to prolong life here or to obtain perfection in body and mind, but rather in heaven, in the imperishable, perfect, holy body we will have in the future. We should recognize that aging, illness, and all the wear and tear that we go through during our early lives are not the final reality of our existence. We have something better in store for us, something we can put our hope in.
That does not mean we can disrespect our earthly bodies, though. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, of the living and eternal God within us. We need to respect and care for our bodies, honoring the dwelling place of the Spirit. We may be destined for glorify and eternal communion with God the Father, but we currently have communion with the Holy Spirit and need to be honoring Him the same way we will honor the Father later.
Death is not the end. Death is merely a transitional period from this present life to the eternal one. Death has been swallowed up in victory (Isaiah 25:8) because Jesus has conquered it. He died and He rose again and death is no more. The death we will experience is the transformation from mortal to immortal, from death to life, from perishable to imperishable. And it is all because of what He has done for us.
Prayer: Lord, I thank You that death has no hold on me any more, that I will be raised to a new life with You forever in heaven with a body that no longer hurts and decays but which reflects Your glory. Amen
Be the first to comment