Do you ever spend time thinking about what eternity will be like? Do you wonder what you will look like in eternity? Have you imagined being in the same body? Have you imagined it being in a different body?
Some people think their current body will be resurrected but will be made perfect. Others believe they will be given a new body. Some worry they will be given a new body, meaning they will not be recognized, nor will they recognize anyone from this life.
The Apostle Paul tells us we will bear the image of the heavenly man, meaning Jesus. Does this mean we will be given a different body? Not necessarily. Yet, it is a possibility. Sound a little wishy-washy? It sure does.
Paul goes on to say that we cannot inherit the kingdom of God with flesh and blood. He states the perishable won’t inherit the imperishable. It appears these statements are saying we will be given a different body. Again, not necessarily so.
When Paul says we will bear the image of Jesus, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and the perishable won’t inherit the imperishable, he is not referring to our physical bodies at all. He is referring to our hearts, minds, and attitudes. He is referring to our being like Jesus by being perfectly like Him in what is most important, which is not the physical.
In the end, we do not know what we will look like for eternity. Perhaps it is intentional. Perhaps we are to not worry about our physical appearance but what is in our hearts and minds, taking on the likeness of Christ in what is important.
I pray we all set aside our obsession with the physical. I pray we desire to be like Christ. I pray each one of us focus on changing our hearts, minds, and attitudes to be more like Christ. Set aside physical obsession. Focus on changing your heart. Focus on having the mind of Christ. Focus on eternity.
1 Corinthians 15:49-50 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
Marty Pressey 