OUR HOUSE FROM HEAVEN

"For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven; inasmuch as we, having put it on, shall not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--for we walk by faith, not by sight--we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:1-8).

Devotion 7 of 12

IT IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF BODY

"That which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be" (v 37). A seed bears little or no resemblance to the fruit that springs from it. The resurrection body is like that. It is the fruit, so to speak, that is reaped after the sowing, or planting, of the body. One must be careful not to superimpose meaningless views upon this text. The Apostle does not encourage idle curiosity by this remark. Rather, he is showing that our "house from heaven" is a different kind of body, adapted for a different environment. He is referring more to functionality than appearance. The resurrection body is of another order.

Paul's argument is provoked by the Corinthian's fleshly view of things. He had already charged them with being "carnal" and walking "as men" (1 Cor 3:3). Their proclivity to earth was evidenced by their questions about the resurrection of the dead. For this reason, Paul elaborated on what should have been obvious to them. The resurrection body is different than our earthly bodies!

Even in nature, there is not uniformity in the bodies of creatures. "All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish" (1 Cor 15:39), NASB). The idea, therefore, of a different kind of body should not cause us to stagger! Even in the heavenly bodies, there is a difference in appearance and functionality. "There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another" (v 40). Heavenly bodies do not have the same appearance as earthly ones, and we are not surprised by their difference. What is even more, there is even a distinction in appearance of masses in the same realm. "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory" (v 41). As wonderful as total uniformity is, it cannot be found in the appearance of things created by God! The resurrection body is to be understood within the framework of these differences. "So also is the resurrection of the dead," the Apostle affirms (v 42). It is a different kind of body, with a different appearance, and with differing qualities.

In the Divine economy, a new order is always superior to the old one. As with all matters in the Kingdom, acceptable change is always better. There is no degeneracy in heavenly life. Growth and change always result in a better condition. "Different," in this case, is "better," "far better" (Phil 1:23).

The Spirit's elaboration of this is beautiful. Keep in mind, He is speaking of our "house from heaven." The glory of this teaching is most refreshing to the soul. "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 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" (v 42- 44). Our present bodies are a handicap. They have been blighted because of sin, and are in a state of deterioration. They are "perishable," destined for the grave. They are "dishonorable," unworthy of our focus. They are inherently "weak," particularly in the presence of the Almighty! They are also linked with "nature," which has been uniformly and irrevocably cursed by God! It is no wonder we are admonished to not glory in, or judge, according to appearance (John 7:24; 2 Cor 5:12).

PRAYER POINT: Father, I am so grateful You have revealed the superiority of the resurrection body. I am painfully aware of the corruption of my present body, and anticipate possessing my new one. In the name of Christ, I ask for grace to prepare myself to inhabit my house from heaven.

-- TOMORROW: A BLESSED CHANGE --