KING ETERNAL - PART 5

THURSDAY 22 JUNE 2023

We are still on immortality which is part of the brightness of God's glory. In accordance with this line of thoughts, we shall be transformed on the last day by experiencing the absolute recovery of our earthly body from death and corruption, which is an elevated privilege for the saints, thereby rendering ourselves immortal and eternally blessed. This is because God's eternal reign and influence on his children are fully transmitted through immortal bodies - a body conducive to divine participations in the heavenly world or Kingdom.

Reference: 1 Timothy 1:17 New International Version (NIV) "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Believing in Christ is the prerequisite to wearing a glorified body (immortal body) upon His return. The Bible says, "But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God." A right is given to all who believe Christ and accepted Him as Lord...A right to do what? To become God's own children. But an immortal body is not given at the point of salvation; only a right of sonship is given. Why are we going to be changed? The children of an immortal God are going to become immortal too because of their parental gene (the heavenly Father's nature). So the immortal body is a glorified body perfectly designed for communication, association and right of residence with God in heaven - who gave us the power to become His children. To that effect, Philippians 3:20 says, "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ" (NIV).

Since there is no complete manifestation of immortality for the saints in time realm, here is what God did for us in our realm of mortality:

"And because of His glory and excellence, God has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires" (2 Peter 1:4 NLT). Got it? The Bible is replete with precious promises that enable us to partake of His divine nature, shape our divine character, and overcome the problems of mortal bodies which are attributed to the world's corruption and evil desires. Living in accord with these precious promises of eternal life in Christ Jesus and applying the principles to our lives, empower us to escape corrupting influences until Christ's return, when we shall activate the immortal body, which is not subject to decay or corruption.

In addition, when Jesus taught the Sadducees and the Scribes about resurrection, he said something remarkable, and that is, "...Those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection" (Luke 20:34-36 NIV). In this very context, Jesus was laying emphasis on immortality. "They can no longer die; for they are like the angels" simply means that they have become immortal like the heavenly beings.

Beloved, we are awaiting the new body. To that effect, 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 says, "For 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. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee He has given us his Holy Spirit (NLT).

Stay tuned for 6, to gain insight into the next attribute, which is the "invisible God." Shalom!

Scripture Reading - 1 Corinthians 15:22; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:53-54; Revelation 20:4-6.

Exuberant Declaration: I am born of God and I dwell in Christ, in whom are hidden, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I live to beam forth the brightness of God's glory and immortality because I'm present in Christ, both in time and eternity. Hallelujah!