“But I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed. In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

Incorruptible

This past year hasn’t been easy for many of us, yet with this I’ve sought the Lord and He’s drawn me close, comforting me in His Word.

The reality is, the things of our everyday life are corruptible. That’s why Jesus encouraged His followers, “Lay up your treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys or thieves break in and steal, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20-21).

Our true destination and hope is with the Lord in heaven. It’s a mystery exactly what that will be like, but the Bible says, “Corruptible has put on incorruption, and mortal has put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:54).

We can dare to dig deep into God’s Word, and with the Holy Spirit’s guidance we can be captivated by the reality of incorruption. The Blue Letter Bible defines incorruption as a condition associated with glory and honor and life, free from mortal taint.

Sin corrupts. We’ve been condemned to corruption since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. Corruption means “under bondage, subject to decay, and a condition experienced when living to gratify our own fleshly desires.” Yet it won’t always be this way.

This is why this section of Scripture has excited me. We don’t have a death sentence. We shall be changed! During our time on earth, we do experience God’s grace and goodness and love, yet this is just the tip of the iceberg compared to what heaven will be like without fear, pain, suffering or death. We will be free from our physical limitations and free in our new bodies face-to-face with our God, free to love as He has loved us, fully engulfed in His glory. We will not be exposed to rudeness or discouraging news reports or sadness from loss or the compulsion to “fix” things.

God does have a purpose for our time on earth. As we endure hard times, we learn to love deeper with patience and creativity as the Holy Spirit equips and changes us from glory to glory with joys and sorrows to make known His love and reality in a corruptible world. Be encouraged!

“Father, Your Word says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor mind conceived the things You have prepared for those who love You” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Help us to keep focused on things above as You are preparing us for glory! As we live out our days, we have this blessed hope of eternal incorruption with You! Amen.”