Who Am I? - Pt 3

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:42-49 ESV).

Today we will look at the last of the three wonderful identifying characteristics of who we are as children of God: we are transformed. I have chosen our reading today from a plethora of references to this wonderful truth. I hope you’ll take the time to read the entire chapter from the Apostle Paul. It describes the incredible new nature God has secured for us through the work of Christ. As I looked for an illustration to accompany this devotional I found the picture of a tree seemingly caught in the middle of winter dormancy and spring life. It seems to me that we often overlook the stark difference between life and death. Physical death is tragic enough; however, when you think of the eternal magnitude of death, it is easy to be overwhelmed with wonder at the accomplishment of grace.  First, we are transformed into the image of the Son of God, Jesus (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:18). Paul will say later in our text that, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet sound” Jesus appears and we will be like him. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually like Jesus is a thought too large to really comprehend. Oh, we won’t “look” like him; we will be like him. All of those things that plague us each day as these bodies age and the habits and bothersome quirks and sins of our lives will be changed forever. I know I’ll be ecstatic when I no longer need to fight back my temper. Real peace will exist in my life.  Second, we will also be delivered from death through Jesus Christ, and your dwelling place will be with Him (cf. Romans 7:24-25; John 14:3). This is that place where “every tear is wiped from our eyes” and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore (cf. Revelation 21:3-4). We drink from the spring of the water of life without payment; and, we enter our rest, inherit the kingdom prepared for us, and step into fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (cf. Hebrews 4:9-11). And we see His face and all of the glory which is His. Just WOW! That’s who we are!