Earthly Bodies – Heavenly Bodies

ByJim Stephens

Reading: 2 Corinthians 5; Proverbs 3

1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:1-5 NLT)

Paul knew that his “earthly body” was subject to weariness and pain, and that as he experienced suffering and abuse in the course of fulfilling his mission and ministry, he had relatively little control over what happened to his earthly physical body. He knew that at some point, he would die and leave his earthly body.

But Paul was confident that God had prepared him a spiritual, heavenly body that would live eternally and would not be subject to deterioration, death, and decay! There’s a clear and powerful insight in verse 3 for all of us: “We will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies!”

Paul clarifies for us as God had clarified for him, a couple of important things about the end of this life and the entrance into our next life, living forever with Christ:

  • We will not be spirits without bodies. Some people believe we’ll live on eternally, but as ethereal spirits inhabiting a “spiritual” place. Or that we’ll become part of an eternal spirit-being and lose our individual identity. We will put on heavenly bodies!
  • Our heavenly bodies will not be subject to aging, weariness, or sickness. I’m looking forward to a body that doesn’t get weary or sick! I’m looking forward to a body that doesn’t require cancer treatment, daily medications, and stem cell transplants!

Until then, I’m going to do the best I can with this earthly body, and make the best of what I have to work with! But, like Paul, I’m looking forward to what’s next!

Prayer:

Father, Thanks for the clarification and encouragement from Paul’s insight and experience and revelation. Thanks for health and healing. Thanks for medicine and supernatural intervention. But thanks most for the assurance of eternal personhood and of heavenly bodies that won’t wear out! Amen!