The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:9-11a,
"The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed."
This morning, as I am reminded of the temporary nature of our fortunes in this life, this passage causes me to think of what we know about the life ahead of us in the resurrection. All who embrace Jesus Christ in faith in this life will share in the fullness of God's kingdom in the next. Here James reminds us that whatever it is we may or may not have in this life will not be a reflection of our fortunes for the eternity that will be ours in the resurrection.
Whether we find ourselves in "humble circumstances" or rich in this life, it is only fleeting as we are like wild flowers that wither away under the sun. Later in this letter, James reminds us we are a "mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:14. The Sons of Korah tell us, "For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves. But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish." Psalm 49:10-12.
Unlike the temporal perspective of this life, life in the resurrection is certain and eternal. John tells us we don't know exactly what we will be, but whatever it is, it is like Jesus Christ as seen in his resurrection. "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2. Paul speaks of the eternal nature of the instant change that will take place when we are resurrected, "We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'" 1 Corinthians 15:51-54.
Paul tell us in 1 Corinthians 15 that our bodies will be of a different nature in the resurrection, "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." Verses 42-44.
As I consider what the Scriptures have to say about the resurrection I can't help but muse. My own feelings are that what we see in creation today is reflective of the order of things that God does create. After all, he created it. It is observed sometimes that we will probably inhabit bodies for all eternity that reflect the biological prime of what God created for us in this life. If I die an old man with crippling arthritis, I might likely be raised in a body that reflects that of a perfectly heatlhy twenty-something year old.
Obviously, life in the resurrection will be lived in an environment absent of both sin and its consequences. No longer will we be subject to an environment struggling under the heavy weight of God's judgment for the sins of mankind. Likewise, we will be living in community with folks no longer driven by sinful desires. All things will be new. Additionally, unlike today, we will be living in God's very presence! "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:3-4
We know that what will be ours in the resurrection will be all the Son of God, Jesus Christ, inherits from God our Father. We are told, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Romans 8:16-17. This is pretty exciting stuff to say the least! In looking forward to the resurrection, David speaks of the wonder of our existence with God when he says, "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11.
I don't know about you, but as I consider that, relatively speaking, these things lie just around the corner for all of us who have embraced Jesus Christ as our Savior, I can't help but get very excited about it!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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