Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 15:35-44.
But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed. Similarly there are different kinds of flesh—one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies. The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory. It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
In the song “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe we hear about what it may be like to be in Christ’s presence when we enter heaven. People have had questions about this since the time of Jesus and it is natural to wonder about how it will be. While Paul’s response “what a foolish question!” seems a little terse, it is written from his faith and love for his congregations.
We can’t possibly know what heaven and our new bodies will look like. Paul explains how natural things are different from spiritual things, using things we can relate to, just as Jesus did in His teaching. It’s not that this is kept from us, merely that we have no frame of reference in our human minds to be able to understand how wonderful it will be.
Paul’s comments tell us “what it will be like” is not nearly as important as “it WILL be”! We don’t know the timing or the details but we have God’s promise that we will all stand before Christ on the last day. Paul calls us to focus on what is most important, how we love and serve God while we are here. No amount of discussion about what may be will ever change the everlasting love He has for us.
Loving Lord, we are amazed by the immensity and diversity of Your creation. Help us to stand strong in faith through our lives and be prepared for that moment we can only imagine. Amen.