Over the past weeks we have taken a closer look at only a few of the
life-changing “But God…” verses found in the New Testament. In these
texts we see the dismal downward spiral of man-made circumstances and the
escape which God supplies that can change everything for us! The words “but
God” glow with His marvelous light, drawing our attention to the path that God
has provided to all who seek the Light!
We have learned:
- We were sinners… but God, with great love for us, gave us His Son to die for us! (Romans 5:8)
- Jesus died for us… but God raised Him from the dead! (Acts 13:30, Romans 1:1-4)
- We were dead in trespasses and sins… but God made us alive together with Christ! (Ephesians 2:1-4)
- The world exalts wisdom, wealth, and power… but God chose lowly things to put these things to shame (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)
- We may try to justify our motives to fool others, even ourselves… but God knows our hearts! (Luke 16:15)
- We will face temptation… but God faithfully makes the way of escape so we can overcome it! (1 Corinthians 10:13)
The final “But God…”
verse I would like to study in this series is another transformative verse, it’s completely life-altering!
“But God gives it a body as He pleases… The body is sown in corruption,
it is raised in incorruption… it is sown a natural body, it is raised a
spiritual body. ” (1 Corinthians
15:38, 42, 44 NKJV)
Ever since the gospel message was first preached, people
have likely wondered how we’ll be raised up and what we’ll look like. It is
difficult for us to wrap our minds around the spiritual realm when we are in
the physical realm but God, through the apostle Paul, gives us a wonderful analogy
to help us understand.
When you plant a seed, you understand that the seed
itself will die, and then from within it comes forth a plant abundant with
life. God gives this plant its body (which
is different in appearance than the original seed, 1 Corinthians 15:37) and
He gives it just as He pleases! Consider for a moment a small black and white sunflower
seed in comparison to the gorgeous golden flower that grows from it – God
provided that!
We too, will one day die, and from within us will come forth
our spirit, abundant in life, to which God will give a body (different in appearance than our original),
a body raised in incorruption, glory, and power – a spiritual body suited for
the spiritual realm (1 Corinthians
15:42-44, 2 Corinthians 5:1-5)!
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we
should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because
it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not been
revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be
like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him
purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3 NKJV)
This great and wonderful life-changing transformation will
happen to us all and it will be glorious to all who have hope as children of
God!!
If you have this hope,
continue to purify yourself, just as He pure, always looking forward to seeing
God and Jesus as they are for all eternity!!
You can do it! So can
I!!
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