If we could understand what will happen with the resurrection I think many of our attitudes would change in this place. We would be less concerned about what we don't have and we would be less bothered by any troubles we have to live through. Paul expressed it this way:
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)
If we are bothered and disturbed by the things of this life it means we are too attached to it and may not understand what is coming. It is like those who are afraid of death. They don't want to experience death because they are too in love with this life. They have yet to realize that death is simply the door to the eternity that has been planned for us. In fact, to call it death is not a correct term for Christians as we know that we are simply falling asleep in Christ until his return. And what a return it will be.
Have you stopped to think about the resurrection and the new body you will receive? This body we have, this flimsy vessel, so weak and prone to sin is only a seed to be planted so that the eternal body may be born from it. The Scriptures are clear in regards to our eternal body:
What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. (1 Corinthians 15:36-38)
We fret so much over this temporary thing that houses us. We regret that we were made too short or too tall. We try to measure the beauty of it but we are always seeing the imperfection. We try to convince ourselves to "love the skin you're in" as if this is all we will ever have. Well, this skin grows old, it only lasts so long. It will have pimples and blemishes when it is young and it will be wrinkled when it is old. It is susceptible to disease, it requires lots of attention to remain healthy. If we abuse it it will break down and cost our society tonnes of money. It is described as a clay vessel because at that time clay was cheap, weak and disposable. Yet we waste so much time on it. It's just temporary folks, disposable, a seed to be planted to become what we were intended for:
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised 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. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)
This is our reality! This body and this place is temporary for us. This perishable, dishonoured, weak, natural body is going to be reborn, transformed just like our heart and mind so that it is imperishable, glorified, powerful and spiritual.
So stop living the attitude of "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die". That is the attitude of those who do not believe in the resurrection of the dead. It is the attitude of those who do not have faith in Christ. It is the attitude of those who believe that "this" is all there is so enjoy it while you can. Don't be one of those people, it is a sad life. Instead, invest what you have been given. Store up for yourself treasures in heaven. Spend your life in service to the King, not worrying about the distractions this world has to offer. Live in such a way that you show that this world is only a shadow of what has been promised to us, so to die is gain for us. To die is to plant that perishable seed so that it becomes the imperishable in Christ. Live your life to the fullest in Jesus and stop worrying that you are missing out on something. The best is yet to come.
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