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“Tangible -- Yet Spiritual and Immortal”

Thoughts for Today:

The word "perishable" is translated from the Greek word PHTHORA which addresses the concept of physical decay, rather than moral corruption. Therefore, when Paul says, "The body that is sown is perishable," he is speaking of the death of our physical bodies. When we die, our bodies are placed in the grave (sown), which is comparable to a seed planted in the soil. But that's not the end of the story as Paul's agricultural analogy demonstrates. Seeds generate into something else. Not a different plant, but a different form.

However, the fact that our bodies will be "raised a spiritual body" does not necessarily mean they will be intangible. How do we know? Let's look at the Bible's description of the resurrected body of Jesus. Luke 24:39: "Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." Luke 24:41-43: "And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, 'Do you have anything here to eat?' They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence."

The Lord knew we would have questions about eternity, and more specifically, regarding the nature of our resurrected and glorified bodies. I believe the descriptions and examples in Scripture were given to us so we would begin to realize, in God's realm, we could have a body that is tangible, yet spiritual and immortal. (Philippians 3:21: "Who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.") So spiritual isn't invisible or without substance, it's just a different form than we currently know.

Questions to Ponder:

A lot of people want to know about eternity. What will our spiritual bodies will be like? Will there be sports? How will we recognize each other? Will we know our spouses, children, parents, or friends? Unfortunately, we don't have complete answers to all these questions. I guess we will have to trust in the love God has for us. After all, if He gave us this wonderful world to live in temporarily, how much more incredible will eternity be?

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About the author

Pocket Devotions are written by Mike Brooks. A retired businessman, he is Moderator of South Shores church, leads the Deacon Board, serves on the finance committee, and he teaches a Men's Bible study and the Men's Ministry. Mike has a passion for evangelical missions. He is the husband of Sherry; the father of Ryan, Natalie, Krissy, Rebecca, and Amanda; the father-in-law of Ariel; and the grandfather of Conner and Christian.