INTRODUCTION:
My father recently remarried after being a widower for a number of years. He
was handsome and the bride was beautiful, the gathering small but enthusiastic
and it was everything a wedding should be. Because we are human we find it
difficult to imagine any state of eternal bliss that would not include such
happy and emotional events. God’s Word teaches us that relationships are very
important. We know that one of the criteria on Judgment Day will be how we
treated other people (Matt. 25:31-46). Some people may have such miserable
lives that they find it hard to imagine a place without the need to take a
break and gather strength. We sing the song “Rest Awhile” without considering
that there will be no need to rest nor will there be the passage of time.
We read also that the way we treat our own body is important (I Cor.
6:19,20). In this article we shall explore the Word to compare the body we
live in now to the one we shall inhabit forever, primarily the latter.
A BODY MADE FOR THIS WORLD.
On the surface, evolution seems to be an acceptable explanation for life on
earth. After all, the human eye looks and works like the ape’s eye, the cow’s
eye the pig’s eye and so forth. However when we examine the situation on the
biochemical and microscopic levels we find that “irreducible complexity”
refutes Darwin’s theory. Recommended reading: Darwin’s Black Box: The
biochemical challenge to evolution, Michael Behe, Touchstone, 1996. The title
may be a bit intimidating but the book is very readable. It is also available
on VHS and DVD that provide visual as well verbal explanations of the
“irreducible complexity” concept.
The human body did not come into being by chance or accident but was
specifically created by God. (Genesis 1:1-31.) Similarities between species
is explained by the fact that God chose a carbon-based platform for life, that
all must breath the same air, drink the same water and so on. God created man
and all other creatures to live in the world he had already created. When man
goes into space, he must take a little of the earth’s air, food and water with
him because he was not created to live in the moon’s environment or the
environment of space. God also created the various species with the ability
to adapt. Scientists observe changes within species depending on where they
are found on earth. Snowshoe rabbits have different fur color and other
characteristics from jackrabbits because they live in a colder climate.
Scientists have never observed the change of one species into another. Man
was created for this world.
A BODY MADE FOR THIS WORLD’S RELATIONSHIPS
God created men and women to interact with other human beings. Men and women
were created to have emotional ties to other people. We understand the
relationship between children and parents, husbands and wives as family
relationships. Within these relationships we find nurturing, loving actions
between the various members of the family. Physically a man and woman
interact to bring forth children (Gen. 2:24). God specifically forbids all
other such physical interactions such as incest, adultery, fornication,
homosexuality and others.. (I Cor. 5:1-5; Matt. 5:27,28; Col. 3:5; Rom.
1:24-27; Lev. 18)
We have other emotional relations with our extended family, friends and
acquaintances. We also have a very special relationship with other members of
the Church. Many books and articles have been written about these
relationships. Recommended reading: Spirit & Truth has an article each
month.
A BODY MADE FOR HEAVEN
“But someone may ask, How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will
they come? How Foolish!” (I Cor. 15:35,36 NIV). We see that people have been
curious about the eternal body for a long, long time. It is hard to imagine
ourselves with a different body. We often imagine ourselves as thinner,
taller, prettier but the images we call up are seen through the mind’s eye
that was made for this world. John tells us in I John 3:2 that it has not
been revealed what our eternal body will be like except that It will be “like
Him”. This lack of revelation is the reason Paul wrote that it was “foolish”
to ask these questions. However Paul did offer some explanation of why it is
difficult for us to imagine a new body. Read the remaining verses of I Cor.
15 to gain fuller understanding, but think about it this way:
Consider a kernel of corn. This small yellow object must die in order to
live again. Buried in the earth, the yellow kernel germinates into a growing
plant. As the growing season progresses, the plant grows very tall with big
green leaves and tassels on top and ears with shucks and silks and many more
kernels of corn. If you had never seen corn, could you imagine what that
little kernel could turn into? Paul tells us that our human body is like the
seed. When it dies, it will live again. Can we imagine what that new body
will be like? We can only speculate.
However, the Bible does give a few clues. Again, I John 3:2 tells us we will
be “like Him”. Other scriptures give other descriptions that are equally
vague: Luke 20:36 “like the angels”, I Cor. 15:53 “imperishable” and
“immortality”, 2 Cor. 5:1 “a building from God, an eternal house in heaven”.
We do not have a specific description of our heavenly body but we do know it
will not be the same as this earthly body. It will have no negative aspects.
We will not get sick, we will not grow old or feeble, we will never be
sorrowful or depressed. Our eternal body will be pure, holy and undefiled.
In other words, it will be a body made for the heavenly environment as
described by John in Revelations.
A BODY MADE FOR ETERNAL RELATIONSHIPS
Just as the heavenly environment will require a body made for it, heavenly
relationships will require a different emotional and psychological make-up.
In Matt 22:23-32, Christ was tested by the Sadducees concerning the heavenly
relationship between a woman widowed seven times and her husbands. Christ
answered, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the
power of God” (NIV). He goes on to explain that there will be no marriage or
giving in marriage in heaven. We can infer several things from this
statement. One, there will not be the same kind of bond between husband and
wife. Two, there will be not be the physical attraction and interaction that
here on earth required marriage. Three, since there will be no “giving in
marriage” the parent-child relationship will not be the same.
We find, especially in Revelations, that there will be many other eternal
creatures in heaven. Our new mindset must include how we are to relate to
them as well. As humans we would be frightened, overwhelmed and falling on
our faces like John. But with a new body and a new set of emotional and
psychological parameters, we will fit right in!
However, it appears that we will still have the ability to recognize and
remember each other. In Luke 16:19-31 we read of the rich man and Lazarus.
The rich man recognizes Abraham and Lazarus and remembers that he has five
brothers still alive back on earth. Although earthly relationships may be
known to us when we achieve that heavenly goal, we will not be acting in the
same ways toward one another. We will have a new body and a new mindset.
CONCLUSION
There is another area of eternity that we have not examined and that is
HELL. The
eternal body for that place will have no positives. There will be no happy
reunions around that lake of eternal black flame! No friends, neighbors or
loved ones will gladly call out your name. The eternal mindset in hell will
focus on pain and misery, suffering and sorrow, guilt and regret.
Therefore, we must not be in error, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power
of God. Although it is difficult to imagine ourselves as anything but
ourselves, we must remember that we will be very different physically and
emotionally in eternity. Think not that heavenly happiness will be a
reflection of the joyful events of earth.. Learn to think of better, grander
things (Phil. 4:8).
