House In Heaven

We know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.

2 Corinthians 5:1

MANY PEOPLE WONDER how it’s possible for us to have recognizable bodies in heaven. Take a look at what happens to dead bodies in this world, and you see the problem. A dead body deteriorates. It ends up returning to dust. If a body is cremated, there is virtually nothing left. An old gambit in Sunday school for many young skeptics was to ask the teacher how a person who fell overboard in the ocean, drowned, was eaten by sharks, caught by a fisherman, carved up and turned into food, etc., etc., etc., could end up with a whole new body in heaven.

The answer is that God is not starting with that old, broken, sinful body. Instead, he begins with the seed from that body, the spirit that is most truly you. On earth, God clothed that spirit with your physical body. In heaven, though, you will receive a spiritual body that will be recognizable, will never age, will last forever, and will be perfect from day one.

We don’t know all the details, but we know God’s promise is that one day it will happen. You can look forward to it as you gaze in the mirror and notice the new wrinkles, bags under the eyes, and so on that your present body is unable to prevent.