Reminders of our own coming resurrection

 

Today, I am planting 345 reminders of the Resurrection. Remember in 1 Corinthians 15, where Paul talks about our new bodies? He says, “But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” How foolish! 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.” (1 Cor 15:36-38). Then, a few verses later he say, “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 Cor 15:42-44)

Then, he says, “I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Cor 15:50-54)

Today, I will plant tulip bulbs (and daffodils, allium, crocus, Spanish bluebells and checkered fritillaria). Those bulbs don’t look much like the beautiful flowers that will bloom in the spring. It’s the same with us. These bodies that live and work and breathe on this earth are just the seeds of what we will become when Jesus calls for us. These bodies die and get sick and feel pain (I’m pretty sure I will be sore after digging 345 holes on hands and knees today) - but THOSE bodies will never die. It is my personal opinion that you can replace the word “spiritual” in verse 44 with the word “interdimensional.” But that’s a thought for another day. I am truly hoping that my new body can fly, no plane needed. In any case, that body will be designed to live forever and to stand in the presence of God. That body will be like Jesus’ body, as John says in 1John 3:2. Remember that Jesus could simply appear in a locked room. Can you even imagine the adventures that await us? Soon and very soon! I can’t wait. 

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 

1John 3:2