We Will Bear the Image of Heavenly
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:35-49(NASB)
35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” 36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; 37 and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.
SUMMARY
The passage explains the meaning of resurrection, that the real life comes only after death.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
In this very technical passage, where Paul tries to teach people the technicalities, differences, and the core concept of resurrection by making explanations and comparisons, the simple conclusion is the very counterintuitive concept of death’s requirement/necessity in order to come/have life.
Reading this passage over and over, the example of the butterfly and the caterpillar came to mind. In order for the new to come, the old must go, in order for the butterfly to be born, the caterpillar must die.
In the same way, the Christian walk is a constant dying so we can be reborn, that is indeed the parallel of the spiritual battle.
It really hit me how many times when we care, when we want, when we are seeking, we ironically by human nature, do the complete opposite of death. We try to control, we try to hold onto, and we put sinfully and unconsciously ourselves in the place of God as if we were omniscient as He is.
Resurrection, God’s glory requires death. And death, in essence, requires surrender, requires letting go, requires dying to ourselves, requires trusting in God, requires walking by faith, requires knowing that God who is mighty will lead our paths and take care of everything. So we must die to ourselves, as an act of faith, so we can resurrect, we can experience life, we can experience God, so we have peace, we have joy, and we feel God’s presence.
APPLICATION
After meditating upon God’s message of reiterating the importance of dying to myself, I was reminded once again how much God loves me, how He always takes care of me, how He never fails, how He always provides better, much better than I can ever imagine, than when I think something is bad, it’s actually not, my thoughts and plans fall short of His, and the “bad things” are actually God’s wake up call, an opportunity where God is leading me to change, to grow, so He can bless me more, and show me more of His Love.
So His call to action to me of dying to myself, is not because God needs me, but because He wants to bless me and shower me with His Love.
I was humbled to be reminded that God is so faithful that He has always historically granted me the desires of my heart, and the ONLY thing He has asked me, just like Jesus to the disciples reiterated at the end, has been to take care of His sheep “If you love me, take care of my sheep.” As I struggle to die to myself with others, to surrender and love His sheep, I am trying to accept what others ask of me and to match their requests just by agreeing, letting things go, and doing what it is in their best interest, as a sign of love, of sharing Christ’s love, just like Paul did, becoming what he wasn’t for the sake of the gospel, even if the ideas are bad, the direction is pointless, money is lost, or time is wasted. I suppose a loss in a worldly fight, but a win in a spiritual fight that is eternal, that God, as judge of all my action, sees in the intention of my heart.
PRAYER
God I thank you for never failing me, for always being there for me, for leading faithfully my path. Help me let go of what I think it’s best, so I can listen to Your words, and I can follow Your direction, so I can die to myself, I can be under your wings, and I can experience life with you, the inheritance you have prepared for me, that it’s much better than anything I think I want or anything I am seeking and I think I can attain. I know you know me better than myself, You created me fearfully and wonderfully. Help me to trust you blindly, like sheep trusts the shepherd, so as I die to myself, I can find life and experience what you have prepared. Help me live in Your resurrection, that I am a light in the world, that I am filled with your love, that I have the direction of your wisdom, and the peace of your presence. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
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