"An Awfully Big Adventure"
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"To die will be an awfully big adventure." ― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan and Wendy
From the tales of the Fountain of Youth to the modern obsession with vampire mythology, people love to dream about living beyond the limits of our aging bodies. God put "eternity in our hearts" (Eccl. 3:11), but our flesh betrays those aspirations. No wonder Paul thought of rising to live forever when he considered his hope (Phil. 3:11, 21; Rom. 8:23-25).
The Big Sleep
When Jesus miraculously raised dead people, he said they had only "fallen asleep" (John 11:11-13; Mark 5:39). Paul says the dead in Christ, too, have "fallen asleep" (1 Thess. 4:14), not because they're unconscious, but because when you lay down, you know you'll "rise and shine" in the morning. For Christians, death is not an end, so we don't grieve like people without hope (1 Thess. 4:13-18).
A Resurrection For All
Jesus describes one great resurrection event for all people.
"… all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment" (John 5:28-29).
Some will receive eternal life (1 Thess. 4:13-16; 1 Cor. 15:52), but the evil will rise for judgment and the "second death" (Rev. 20:12-15; John 5:29).
A Resurrection of Our Bodies
When we die, we'll leave our bodies (2 Cor. 5:8), but we will not remain "unclothed … we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life" (2 Cor. 5:4). Jesus describes bodies coming forth from "tombs" (John 5:28; used in Matt. 23:29; 27:52-53), not just spirits coming forth from Hades (Rev. 20:13; Luke 16:23; Acts 2:27, 31). But "someone will ask, 'How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?'" (1 Cor. 15:35). Paul answers, "You foolish person!" (1 Cor. 15:36). Don't underestimate God's creative power to make all kinds of bodies, just like he makes seeds that "die" and change into plants (1 Cor. 15:36-42).
A Resurrection Like Christ's
During the Feast of Firstfruits, the Israelites offered their first product of the harvest season, showing their confidence in the abundance that would follow (Lev. 23:10). So Christ's resurrection is "the firstfruits," assuring us of the bountiful resurrection harvest to come (1 Cor. 15:19, 23). On that day, Christ "will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body" (Phil. 3:21; cf. 1 Cor. 15:49). Our risen bodies will be imperishable, powerful, and spiritual (1 Cor. 15:42-54). Our current bodies aren't fit for the world to come, so even those who don't die will "be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Cor. 15:51-54). Clasping this confidence, we remain "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work" (1 Cor. 15:58) — because we know we will live forever. What an adventure that will be!
