OUR BODIES Devotion 13 of 15 "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit." (2 Cor 5:4-5) – Tomorrow:
" . . . Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body . . . Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? . . . Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:13-20, KJV)
In the new birth, or new creation, God is not merely giving us a fresh start. That new birth is the beginning of our fashioning, or adaptation, for an eternal realm. Before Jesus returned to heaven, He told His disciples His work now included making provisions for them to be with Him – where He where is now. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; that where I am, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO" (John 14:3). If we knew nothing more of Christ's present activities than this, we would be brought to the conclusion that this world and this time are not to be the center of our attention. We cannot be occupied with things that fail to blend with what Jesus is presently doing.
God has revealed His predetermined purpose is to conform us to the image of His Son – to make us like Him (Rom 8:29). He has revealed that His Holy Spirit is presently changing us "from one degree of glory to another" (2 Cor 3:18, NRSV). Consequently, being born again constitutes us "strangers and pilgrims" in this world (1 Pet 2:11; Heb 13:11).
I know full well this contradicts the burden of religious teaching to which a significant number of Christians are being subjected. Legion is the name of the teachers who anchor people to this world with their shortsighted dogmas and programs. If a law was passed that forbade preaching and teaching with this world being the primary consideration, a considerable percentage of religious activity would be brought to a grinding halt. God is implementing His purpose with the passing of this world in mind. The Lord Jesus is presently mediating, interceding, and leading with the demise of this present evil world in mind. The Holy Spirit is working with us to separate us from this world, and ready us for "the world to come." Holy angels have been charged with ministering to us, protecting us from this world, and moving us toward the one to come. The Word of God is designed to provide us with heavenly perspectives, acquaint us with heavenly manners, and prepare us to stand before the Lord after this world has passed away. These considerations are fundamental to sound theology.
The people of God have not been born again for this world. Their salvation has not suited them to their present bodies, or the earth, for which they are adapted. Their earthly house, or body, is to be subdued, not exalted! It is their temporary residence, not, as Solomon put it, their "long home" (Eccl 12:5). Our present bodies are temporal, but salvation is suiting us for eternity.
It is important that no one develop an improper view, however, of the body. It is for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. Our primary text states it emphatically. "Our bodies are the members of Christ." He has already purchased them. He will change them when He comes again. They are perishable now; they will be imperishable then! They are mortal now; they will be immortal then! Our present bodies our dishonorable; our new bodies will be raised in glory. We will sow this body in weakness, but it will be raised in power! We now have a natural body; we shall soon have a spiritual one (1 Cor 15:44-45,53)!
In salvation, our Father has created us to inhabit that glorified body! The Spirit states it marvelously. "For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed [with our new bodies], in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge" (2 Cor 5:4-5, NASB). God is preparing us for the glory – to occupy it in a glorified body. His grace is teaching us to deny what rivets us to the earth, and accept what anchors us in heaven!
If, when the dead are raised, our persons are NOT READY to occupy an immortal body, living forever in the presence of the Lord, and serving Him without interruption, our lives have been wasted. Let us not be ambiguous about this. If our spirits are not harmonious with eternity – prepared to occupied with eternal matters – there will be no way to avoid condemnation. In salvation God is preparing us for this purpose – to be clothed with immortality, or to move into a body that is fashioned like unto Christ's glorious body (Phil 3:20-21). That is precisely what our text says. As the New Jerusalem Bible reads, "but because we want to be covered with a second garment on top, so that what is mortal in us may be swallowed up by life. It is God who designed us for this very purpose."
Until the "redemption of the purchased possession," God has given us His own Holy Spirit. More is involved in this gift than the experience of good sensations. Neither, indeed, is this benefit confined to empowering us to live godly and reach the world for Christ – although those are good and noble. God has regenerated us to inhabit our house from heaven. The Holy Spirit is orienting us for that house. He assists us in developing appetites that will be fulfilled in our resurrection bodies – appetites that will actually transfer to heaven! How is He doing in His work with you? If you are not making much progress, it is only because you have grieved and quenched the Spirit of God.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me to rid myself of all influences that neutralize the working of Your holy Spirit. I want to be ready to put on my house from heaven.