“We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 5:2-5 NLT
We long for the day when we are released from the burdens of this life. Our current bodies are under stress and demands that leave us longing for deliverance. Disease, sicknesses, injury, age, depression, anxiety, worries, and many other afflictions taunt us as we walk the road of life. We desire to experience a place and time where these burdens are forever erased. God has made this dream a reality. Although sin has corrupted our mortal existence, God has prepared a way for us to be restored to immortality. Through Jesus Christ we experience spiritual rebirth (see John 3:1-7). This rebirth ("born again") experience happens when we accept Jesus as our payment for sin and, correspondingly, we have imparted to us, right standing with God. Our spirit is renewed and our eternal life is restored. Our bodies continue to decay but our inward man ("spirit") is made new and alive. 2 Corinthians 4:16 says this: "That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.” NLT The Holy Spirit takes up residence in our mortal bodies (see I Corinthians 6:19&20). The only thing that has yet to be made new is our mortal flesh (our body). This will occur when Jesus returns. "But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.” 1 Corinthians 15:23 NLT (see also I Thessalonians 4:13-18 and I Corinthians 15:51-58). The bottom line is this: "There is coming a day when no heartache shall come, no more clouds in the sky, no more tears in the eye. All is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore. What a day, glorious day that will be." Prayer for today: Father, in Jesus name, thank you for loving me so much that you came to die I'm my place that I might live forever. Because you defeated death, I know that through You, I too have victory over death. Amen!!
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![]() Rev. Curtis Norris Archives
March 2020
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