A spiritual body ... what a mystery!

WITH FAITH, we believe that we will be raised from the dead in a different body, the body of Christ. This is not a matter we can understand rationally, but only by our faith in Jesus Christ. Somehow, this corruptible body; corruptible by sin, sickness and death, will go. Then when the last enemy – death – comes, this last enemy will be destroyed, for all things are subjected to Him. All of us will conquer death because He is the Christ, the First Fruit, and the first among the brethren who conquered death, rose from the dead, and lifted us His brethren by His power into His heavenly home.

What will our bodies be like at the time of the resurrection? We spent so much time on our bodies – to be physically beautiful, youthful, strong, healthy. But all that will be gone! Look at the tortured and torn body of Jesus crucified. Look at our physical corruption when we have been buried for a few days. St Paul says, “What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown as a physical body, it is raised in a spiritual body.”

What a hope! We will live in a spiritual body! What this is, is a mystery!

Hope, that is what we need. Our faith brings us hope that there is something much greater than the pleasures of this passing world awaiting us. That is, living in Heaven, where there are many mansions, living with the Father, being with the Son, being with them, dining with them.

In Heaven, there will also be angels and saints. I truly believe this. I live on Earth for this, struggling as all of us do to overcome my lower nature, painfully enduring and seeking to overcome my weaknesses, longing for God day and night, and joyfully finding my way through this valley of tears.

Easter! Wow! What would we do without it? What would I do without it? And, it is given to us day by day by the good Lord Jesus Christ. We must increase our work for the Lord, knowing that our labour is not in vain.