“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.”

How much thought do you give about what it will be like in heaven, what it will look like? My guess is that you give even less thought to what you will look like in heaven, what our bodies will look like. There were people in Corinth who claimed that there was no resurrection from the dead for Christians. Paul disputes that almost entirely though he does agree on one point, namely that there is no way a corrupt dying human body can possibly inherit the Kingdom of God, our naturally born bodies cannot exist in God’s presence in heaven for eternity. So, what happens to us when we die? These two verses in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians addresses this very question and makes it crystal clear as to what transpires. God will in fact transform our natural bodies into glorified spiritual bodies that will inherit God’s kingdom. The mystery is revealed.

All believers will experience change when they step into eternity and it will happen when Christ returns for His people as He said He would in John 14:2-3. The change will be instant “in the twinkling of an eye.” It’s impossible for us to imagine how that will feel or how we will recognise those who we know and loved in our earthly life. But we will know when that time comes. We can be assured that our transition and transformation from our earthly lives to our heavenly lives will appear seamless and glorious. We need not concern ourselves about the detail as to how and when, only that God will honour all who believe in Him will inherit His kingdom for eternity.

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Application:

In what other ways might we be changed when Christ returns?

What does scripture say about how are we to prepare for our own resurrection?

Prayer

Thank You, heavenly Father, that You have prepared a place for us and we can be with You for all time when Christ returns. Help us to be always ready and prepared for that moment giving You glory and praise for Your grace, mercy and faithfulness. Amen.