Thursday 17 May 2012

Issue 17 - Day 4


1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 15:51-54
51)  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54)  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

How are you at mysteries? Do you read, or watch a mystery, trying to work out who done it (sic)? God is the world’s worst at suspense. For centuries the mysteries of God were hidden, though revealed in prophecy for those sharp enough. However, come the New Testament he could no longer keep it secret. The mystery of the church, the mystery of the Holy Spirit, the mystery of Christ and this the mystery of resurrection. We are reading the answers before the film has finished.

Two mysteries here. What will happen when we die, or at the end of time? Some will not die, but regardless, in that moment we will all be transformed, the dead will rise, and we shall all be re-united in him. Death has reigned over the Earth since the time of Adam and Eve, yet there will come a day when death will be no more, and even those dead will return. For this reason we have hope, and a hope of eternal life in Christ.
The second mystery is, what will we be like? We will have new bodies, recognisable as us to all that knew us, but spiritual in nature, as different
from the physical as an oak tree is from an acorn. That is worth waiting for!

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