OUR DEVOTIONAL

Maybe you are like me. You have a few aches and pains that have become constant companions over the years. What was once easy to do is now is quite challenging. You catch yourself wondering what your new spiritual body will be like when Jesus calls you home.

Scripture is clear that our natural body will wear out and die, but if we have confessed our sins and accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will spend eternity in heaven. We know we will be like Jesus when we are resurrected and given our eternal body. This new resurrected body will never be weak, never get sick, and never die. We will be raised in a glorious, powerful, spiritual body that will be our new body forever. We will have a body that never decays, is never dishonored, never humiliated, and has no infirmities and weaknesses. We will be like the resurrected body of Christ.

What can we expect if we are a glorified human being like Jesus?

1. We will live with Jesus forever in a body that death cannot harm or threaten. (Romans 8:21-23)
2. We will a life without sin in an imperishable body raised in glory of God and we will experience his glory. (Colossians 3:4)
3. We will live a life without weakness because we were raised in God’s power to magnify Him. (2 Corinthians 4:7)
4. We will live a life without limits. Jesus will give us an abundant, eternal life. (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Sometimes when my husband and I are sitting around talking about what our future life in heaven will be like, he will ask me this question: “Do you think there will be ice cream in heaven?” What do you think? Although we do not know the exact answer, we do have some ideas when we look at the resurrected Lord.

• Jesus appeared in the flesh and ask some of the disciples “Do you have anything to eat?” They gave him broiled fish. (Luke 24:41-42)
• In Revelations 22:1-3 we read that the Tree of Life will have twelve kinds of fruit that we may enjoy throughout the year.
• John, in Revelations 19:7-10 talks about the marriage supper of the Lamb which will appear in heaven. It will be a glorious banquet of all who are in Christ. I am sure there will be tasty treats provided.

I don’t know about you, but I believe our new spiritual, resurrected bodies will be amazing and there will be wonderful things to enjoy in heaven. Whether we have ice cream doesn’t matter. I know whatever we do have will be better than anything we can imagine, and I cannot wait to say goodbye to this body sown in corruption, sown in dishonor, sown in weakness, and sown in a natural body, and receive my new amazing, spiritual body.

FAMILY MOMENT

Resurrection is often compared to planting seeds which must die before they grow into a plant. Our earthly bodies are buried in the earth and become our resurrected bodies in heaven. As a family project plant seeds to watch the process of the seeds growing into a new plant.

During the growing process, periodically reference the process of the seed dying before it can grow into the plant. Children may enjoy drawing each phase of the growing process. Once the plant becomes visible consider measuring how much the plant grows and record it in a plant journal or on a poster for the family to observe the rate of growth over time.

PRAYER & REFLECTION

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association uses an idea from John 1:40-42 to create an “Andrew List” of ten folks in your family, neighborhood, or people you know that do not yet know Jesus. Just as Andrew brought his brother to meet Jesus, who is on your list that you want to meet Jesus? Create your own list. You can do this as an individual or as a couple or family. Each day during devotional time, pray for the people on your Andrew List. We want everyone to know Jesus and spend eternity with Him in their new glorified, spiritual bodies. Who will you pray for today?