The promises of Scripture are manifold . . . not only in number but in variety. Conditional promises . . . unconditional promises . . . promises concerning what God can do . . . promises concerning what we can do through Him . . . promises for the “here and now” . . . promises to be realized at the “there and then”. It’s one of those “there and then” promises that has just grabbed me this morning . . . “we shall all be changed!” (1Cor. 15:51)

You got to love 1Corinthians 15 . . . what a tragedy if it’s only considered at Easter. Shouldn’t we seek to live in the reality of the resurrection on a moment-by-moment basis? It’s the foundation of our faith . . . it is the consummation of our salvation . . . it should also be the motivation for a holy determination to walk in a manner worthy of our calling as Christians. And one of the most amazing parts of this altogether amazing portion of Scripture is Paul’s answer to the question, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” (1Cor. 15:35b)

Paul’s answer is amazingly (there’s that word again) simple for such a profound question. We see the concept of resurrection every time we plant a seed. A seed is planted in the ground and “dies” in its current form only to be “made alive” as it emerges from the dirt in a different form. God gave the seed one “body form” before it was planted and God determined another “body form” as it transformed into a living plant. There are different types of “human bodies” . . . those suited for earth and those that are suited for heaven. Both are amazing bodies (there I go again with that word, amazing) . . . the wonder of how our flesh-and-blood bodies are fit together and how they function is the study of a lifetime . . . similarly the heavenly body will be beyond our ability to imagine and may, for eternity, evoke within us a wonder at how it is fashioned.

And just like the seed, the earthly body of the believer is “planted” at death and will emerge in new form at the resurrection. “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 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. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” (1Cor. 15:42-44). As amazing as this body is, my next body will be even more so . . . raised in incorruption . . . a spiritual body . . . a powerful, glorious body . . . a body fashioned in the likeness of the risen Son of God.

“The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” (1Cor. 15:47-49)

We shall bear the image of the heavenly Man . . . we shall put on the likeness of the risen Son of God who dwells with the Father in unapproachable light . . . we shall be clothed with the same form born by the King of kings and Lord and lords. Not only do we have the hope of being with Him, but we will be like Him. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1Cor. 15:50) . . . so we will be raised with a body that can inherit the riches of heaven . . . we shall all be changed!

How amazing (what other word are you going to use?) is that? Pretty amazing!

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1Cor. 15:57-58) Amen!