The Resurrection Of The Body Series

THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY

March 31, 2013

Copyright 2013 by Bob Marcaurelle

Job 14:14

“If a man dies will he live again?

Job 19:25

“I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. I myself will see Him with my own eyes- I and not another. How my heart yearns within me.”

Acts 17:31-32

“He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this by raising Him from the dead. When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered but others said, ‘We want to hear you again on this subject.””

THE AGONY

If a man dies will he live again? There is not anyone among us who has not asked this question. We do it in curiosity, hope, or fear – but we do it. And deep inside us we know the answer is yes.

I believe the first to ask that question was Eve. What a horrible day it was when she saw her beautiful son covered blood. I can hear her screams. I can see her cradle his body in her arms. I can hear her thoughts as she wonders, “Is this all? Is my son’s smile gone forever? Will I never hear his voice again.”

THE UNDYING HOPE

Wherever we go in history past or to the remotest spot on this earth today we find that human beings made in the image of God believe in life after death. The ancient pyramids are tombs where bodies are preserved and prepared for the next life. The American Indian was buried with his bow pointing him to the hunting ground above and beyond this life. It is our nature to believe the person we are; the soul; the spirit; the part we cannot see survives the trauma of death. The beliefs may be filled with superstitions and dread but they are there.

There are many reasons we feel this way. One is the indestructibility of the soul. No bullet or knife or nuclear bomb can touch it. It is beyond the reach of all that the cruelties of man and nature can do to us.

Second is the incompleteness of life. When Adrian Rogers turned 65 someone asked him if he was ready to retire. He answered, “Retire – man I am just learning how to preach.” This life is all too short. We all die with our best music still inside us. We are just getting started.

Another reason is the injustice of life. Can it be that children digging their food out of garbage cans all over the world will not get another chance at life? Can it be that the proud Nazis who experimented on children will not be subjected to a higher Power in another Court? Everything that is good and decent in us cries out for this.

Lately even science has joined in. Doctors who work with the dying and others who have witnessed after death experiences, even if they are not believers, talk about the existence of “something” other than the physical.

A passerby interrupted a street preacher. He said, “All this talk about heaven and hell is nonsense. When we are dead, we are dead. We are nothing but a mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, sulfur and such.” The Preacher did not answer and the man said, “What’s the matter? You don’t have an answer do you?” “Its not that” the Preacher said, I’m not in the habit of carrying on a conversation with a pile of nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, water and sulfur.”

Life is real, life is earnest

And the grave is not its goal

Death you are and to death returneth

Was not written of the soul

THE LATER RESURRECTION

Christianity does not just join most religions with its belief in life after death. It pictures the day, when Jesus returns, and all the bodies of all the ages, with come out to clothe their living spirits who have been in heaven with Jesus or in a place of punishment.

Daniel 12:2

“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will wake up; some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting shame and contempt.

John 6:25, 29

“A time is coming/when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God/and come out- those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of damnation.”

Revelation 20:11-15

“Fire came down from heaven and

devoured them/And I saw the Great White Throne/And I saw the dead, great and

small, standing before the Throne and

books were opened/Another book was opened which was the Book of Life/The dead were judged according to what