Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Body of Christ,
Many of us may have made a New Year’s resolution sort of like this, “I need to get this old body of mine in shape … I’ll eat better, exercise, and get more rest.” Now, almost 60 days into the year, many of us are back in our old habits. The longed for “new body” … well, we’re happy with the old one.
We’re often fascinated by our bodies. And many wonder what their bodies will be like in eternal life. Which one will they have? The Corinthians wondered this too, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” (1 Corinthians 15:35) People asked because they thought talk of the resurrection of the dead was foolish. How can a dead person live again?! Their lack of hope in the resurrection led to moral decay within the church. The thought being, “Why should I strive to live in accord with God’s Word if there really is no eternal life?”
Paul reinforces our belief in one of Christianity’s key beliefs … the resurrection of the body into new, eternal life through Jesus. How’s this possible?! First of all, Jesus Christ, paved the way for all who believe in Him by being the first man to rise from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:23). We may not be able to explain “resurrection” scientifically, and we don’t need to. We believe the truth found in God’s Word. To help us understand, Paul uses the analogy of a seed … a dead object that’s buried in the ground which returns to new life in a glorious new form. You can’t stick the living plant in the ground to create the new form. The plant must live its life and die to live again. And this new body is radically different from the body planted in the ground. “God gives it a body as He has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.” (1 Corinthians 15:38) Which body will we have? We don’t know. But, we believe God will raise us to new life in a new and glorious body of His choosing. And this glorious body will live forever (1 Corinthians 15:42).
I opened saying many resolutions made on January 1st fall by the wayside by February. Here’s a thought you might want to consider … a “Resolution Redo.” Lent begins March 6th when we observe Ash Wednesday.
A common practice during Lent, to help us continually recall the life, suffering, and death of Jesus on our behalf, is to give something up. I have another idea to help us do the same thing, add something to your daily practices … add a few extra moments of prayer and reflection on God’s Word to get your spiritual life in shape … and … enter into a “Resolution Redo.” As you commit to getting the body God blessed you with into shape … you can also reflect on God’s gifts offered to you through His Word – the forgiveness of sins and eternal life in our glorious new bodies. Then, on Easter, as we celebrate the Resurrection, perhaps your physical body will be strengthened … more importantly your spiritual body and faith will also be renewed.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Jim