Annuals and Perrenials

 

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; git 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).

 

A perennial plant or simply “perennial” is a plant that lives more than two years. The term is a translation of two root words that means "through the years". It is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widely used to distinguish plants with little or no woody growth. One of my favorites this time of the year in Texas are the bluebonnets. The picture I’ve included today is from the Ennis Bluebonnet Trail not far from us. This longhorn enjoyed the spring grasses among the bluebonnets lazily moving through the field when we stopped to get a picture.

 

Thinking of making another daytrip soon to see this year’s crop, I was reminded of our reading today. The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians, in part, to instruct them about the resurrection body. In some ways, the perishable body we have in this world could be compared to an annual plant—it fades and tragically dies. And the imperishable body promised in the new heaven and earth could be likened to a perennial—it lives on and on. However, according to this letter, the comparison breaks down. “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable.” An annual does not become a perennial. It is worth noting, however, that recent research and experimentation at Texas A&M University reveals the genetics at work in annual and perennial plants. It seems that some genetic engineering can change an annual into a perennial.

 

If humans can change plants, surely God can change human bodies. The crucial transformation takes place in Christ’s death and resurrection. The bodies of all who follow him in life and death are planted like seeds, “natural bodies,” and raised “spiritual bodies”. That is the basis for our eternal hope!