“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 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” (I Corinthians 15:42-44).
Our bodies are “sown” (go into the ground) as perishable bodies. They will be raised as imperishable. Our bodies go into the ground in dishonor. They will be raised as glorious. Our bodies are buried in weakness. They will be raised in power. Our body dies as a natural body. It is raised a spiritual body. And all of this “raising” is by the power of God.
“Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power” (I Corinthians 6:14).
The same power that raised Christ from the dead, is the power that will raise our bodies as well. The timing of our resurrection is a matter of much debate in Christian circles. That is not really the point of this post. The point is that we will be raised by the power of God to forever dwell in the presence of the Lord.
When we lived in Salt Lake City, most of our neighbors belonged to the Mormon church. We enjoyed many spiritual conversations with our Mormon friends. I appreciated their interest in spiritual things. One of their core beliefs was the idea of three heavens. In heaven number one would be Mormons of good standing. In heaven number two would be “good people” like Rhonda and I (we were always assured). And in heaven number three were the bad people.
As we discussed our future state, I would share as politely and unsarcastically as I could the following. It doesn’t matter if there are three heavens, one heaven, a hundred heavens; I know that I will be in the heaven with Jesus. I will forever be with the Lord. We have that promise.
The Mormon church teaches that many requirements need to be met to make it to heaven number one. The Bible teaches that there is only one requirement to residing in heaven with Jesus. Believe in Jesus. “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40).
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).
By the power of God, we will be raised from the dead to always be with the Lord.