The Wonderful Post-Resurrection life
Death is an age-old dread. Some philosophically call it “ a necessary end,” but that’s probably because there’s apparently no escape from it.
Nevertheless, the story of one Man shows that there’s hope beyond the grave.
Meet Jesus of Nazareth, “the first fruit of them that slept [die].” (I Cor. 15:20).In this Man is found the definitive answer to the query of ages: Will man someday live forever? It was He who made the unprecedented claim – “I am the resurrection and the life”- and went on to prove it!
Yeshua pre-demonstrated the post resurrection life that awaits all true believers upon their resurrection from the dead or, for living saints, upon their “catching away “to meet Him in the air (John 5:25, 28:29; I Thess 4:14-17)
Our Messiah resurrected from the dead with a glorified body, a body without the frailties and inadequacies of our present canal bodies. In essence, Christ became a spiritual Entity with the ability to manifest in the physical – while still a spirit – and interact with people. For forty days after His resurrection, this was the kind of life He lived.
As believers, the post–resurrection life in Christ should be our ultimate goal – a prize we must grab at all costs. Instead of disappointment, we should strive to receive the crown of life (2 Tim. 4:7-8; Jam. 1:12). We should have no cause to dissolve into an elegy:
“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” (Jer. 8:20).
So let’s press towards the mark; let’s put on a spurt for the goal. .Righteousness, fortitude, obedience and faith in Christ should be second nature to those of us who aspire to receive the crown of eternal life on resurrection day. ( I Cor 6:9-11; Rev 14:12).
On the nature of the post – resurrection life of Christ, it’s worth noting that His post–resurrection life (as lived for 40 days on earth) is unlike ghostly existence which cannot be manifested physically. (See Prov. 9:18-“the dead are there”).
Remember, man is a tripartite being, composed of spirit, soul and body. (Thess 5:23).
The resurrected Christ possessed a ‘body’ or presence that was amenable to both spiritual and physical existence. For example, He was able to manifest Himself in the midst of His disciples (out of nowhere apparently) although they had locked themselves indoors. What is more, He sat down to meat (a piece of broiled fish and honey) to demonstrate that He was/is not merely a ghost. “(Luke. 24:36-43).
In short, He lived demonstrably the post-resurrection angelic life that lies ahead of all true believers.
The angelic life is a far-cry from carnality and immortality. Hence to live this kind of supernatural life we must, of necessity, undergo a change. As I Cor. 15:52 puts it, “we shall be changed … at the last trump.” (Also vs 51).
In other words, we being corruptible today shall be raised in incorruption; though weak now, we shall be raised in POWER.
To be specific, we shall be clothed with a spiritual body on resurrection morning for “there is a natural body, and there’s a spiritual body. (I Cor. 15:42-44).
This is glorious! We shall “bear the image of the heavenly” by putting on spiritual bodies like those of Yeshua, His Father and the holy angels (vs 49).
This is the whole point of the “mystery” Paul refers to in I Cor. 15:51. “Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall all be changed.”
Truly, when He does appear, we shall be like Him. ( I John 32; Col. 3:4).
Even now, He lives in the Spirit and in the hearts of all faithful believers. But without faith we cannot please Him (Heb. 11:6). Yes, it takes faith to be assured of His ever-presence among believers, for He continues to work in and through all sincere Christians to this day.
The post-resurrection life in Christ is a goal we dare not miss. Yes, pretty soon we shall awake with His likeness. (Ps. 17:15). May that day hasten, and may we reflect His glory when He appears. Amen!
