Light for the Journey: 12.01.08 A Glimpse of Heaven (8)

2. Our new body will be recognizable. Philippians 3:21 (NCV) By His power to rule all things, He will change our simple bodies and make them like his own glorious body.

3. Our new body will be perfect. Matthew 26:41 (NCV) The spirit wants to do what is right, but the body is weak.

Perfection is for heaven - not earth - especially when talking about our physical bodies. A friend just had some major dental work done, part of which was a new bridge. Sarah went in and the dentist made molds in order to construct the permanent bridge so that it would fit perfectly. Making the permanent bridge took several weeks because this dentist is a perfectionist. He fitted Sarah with a temporary bridge while he created the permanent one. Sarah called to see when it would be ready and was told to "be patient." The doctor assured her that the permanent bridge would be worth the wait.

Our earthly body is temporary, limited and flawed. Romans 7:24 (NIV) What a miserable man I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death? However, our new body is eternal, without flaw and perfect. What this imperfect world has taken from our physical body will be restored to us in our heavenly body! My mom was paralyzed on earth but now she can walk in heaven. My friend, Beth, could not eat on earth but is now having a feast. Blind men can see and deaf people can hear. Everything that is wrong here, in our earthly body, will be made right and perfect in our heavenly body.

4. We will still have emotions and feelings. In Luke 24:36-39 Jesus himself stood right in the middle of them and said, "Peace be with you." They were fearful and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus said, "Why are you troubled? Why do you doubt what you see? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself!" Jesus came back to see the people He loved - His disciples. Knowing they were afraid, He comforted and reassured them that hope was still alive because He was still alive! The same Jesus they had laughed with, cried with and served with was standing in front of them, loving them just as He always had. All of this indicates great emotions. Our relationships will be deeper and our emotions more intense in heaven than they ever were on earth.

5. We will be smarter in heaven. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NCV) Now we see a dim reflection, as if we were looking into a mirror, but then we shall see clearly. Now I know only a part, but then I will know fully, as God has known me.

In an Ann Landers column, someone wrote in describing a funeral they had attended for a leading citizen of their small town. The preacher gave a great eulogy listing all the virtues of the man who was his friend, ending his speech with this final word, "We have here only the shell. The nut is gone." Some Christians are afraid that once they get to heaven, they will lose all knowledge and awareness of earthly relationships and interests. We place too much importance on this earthly shell. It merely houses the eternal part of who we are. 1 Corinthians 12:12 clearly indicates that we will have more understanding and knowledge in heaven. Heaven is a place that we will enjoy.

World travel will be unlimited.
Our creativity will thrive.
Our questions will be answered.
Our understanding will grow.
Our vision will flourish.
We see the whole picture.

Scientists believe that even a genius like Einstein used only 10% of his mental potential but in heaven, we will use it all - every gift and ability - to its fullest.

6. We will still be us. When God created us, He created us for eternity. Psalm 139:14-16 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

C.S. Lewis was asked by a reporter during World War II what he would think if the Germans were to drop a bomb right on top of him. "If you only had time for one last thought, what would it be?"   Lewis replied, "I would look up at the bomb, stick my tongue out at it and say, "Pooh! You are only a bomb! I'm an immortal soul!"

Every day, we are building the house of character and the essence of the final person we will be for all eternity. With every choice we make and every step we take, we are making a deposit on the identity that we will live with forever!  When we invite Jesus into our lives, eternal life begins. When we get to heaven, Christ will remove all of the sin in our life but we will still have those characteristics which make us unique as individuals. One example of this is seen in the life of Elijah, the prophet who spent his whole life fighting evil and idolatry.

Malachi 4:5 See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.

The prophet Malachi identifies Elijah as one of two witnesses who will appear to fight against the Antichrist and his army during the Tribulation at the Battle of Armageddon. Just as he fought against King Ahab, Queen Jezebel and the prophets of Baal, he will fight against the forces of evil!

Colossians 3:12-17 (NLT) 12-17 Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.  Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.  And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Do you like the character that you are building for eternity? The choice is yours today. You can know Him. You can invite Him into your life right now.