Many a soul gathers in the early hours of the morning around the globe, looking east to the horizon as first light appears, eagerly waiting for its source. As the sun breaks through, there is a true wonder as joy and hope are tasted, and at least for a moment, yesterday is forgotten, and hope for a better day dares to break through. Perhaps this is what draws many to watch the sunrise, or maybe it is watching the sun rise up in the sky, soaring above the world (and all its trouble), and that the dream to follow is almost universal, that is to be raised up in to the heavens. And yet, for those who look on and get to know (intimately) the Son of God, so too they will receive the power of resurrection and are lifted up from death, and into the heavenlies with a body in the image of the glorified Christ. When He returns those believers, who are in heaven or on earth are blessed to be lifted up, not only as spirit and soul, but also receiving a new body that never decays, or grows old.
It is hard to image isn’t it? We will be raised in the image of the heavenly man. Throwing off our mortality, to be clothed in immortality. We become completely immortal! Consider the actions of Christ after His resurrection, in bodily form simply appearing and disappearing as He desired; Feeling, breathing, imparting the Spirit, tasting, speaking, lifting up to heaven, glorified in light brighter than the sun…all part of this immortality. But this will not be a place of boasting, but rather one of total humility, knowing it was and is only possible by Christ, and the grace of God. Our joy will not be in our immortality, rather in the knowledge we are completely found in Him.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. (John 1:14-18)
“This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:39-44)
And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man…. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:49,53)
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