As I write this, I am 71 years old. Not ancient by any means. But the end of this life is now much closer than its beginning. So, what comes next? What happens after I draw my last breath?
The great hope we have as believers in the Lord Jesus is that this life is not all there is. In fact, this life does not begin to compare with what awaits us on the other side of the grave (1 Cor. 2:9). Just as Jesus was resurrected from the dead, so we who follow him look forward to our own resurrection when he returns for us (1 Cor. 15:23).
But what will it be like? Will we have bodies? Will we recognize each other? What will we do then? There are many questions we might have concerning the resurrection. And for some of those questions, we have no real answers yet. However, Paul provides some information in the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians.
It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 NET
My body now is perishable and weak. My resurrection body will be imperishable and powerful. In comparison to my body now, my resurrected body will be glorious.
And while I have a natural body now, I will have a spiritual body then. It might be tempting to understand this as being a disembodied spirit. But it is a body. However, a body without the temptations, passions, and desires of our natural body. Instead, it will be a body without the sinful nature we deal with now, a spiritual body.
What a day that will be. When the last trumpet sounds to call believers out of our graves. And when these mortal, perishable bodies are changed into immortal, imperishable bodies (1 Cor. 15:51-53).
So, as Paul says, since we have this hope as believers, stand firm and let nothing move you from faithfully following our Lord. And always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58).
