What Will I Look Like In Heaven?

“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:1–4, NIV)

God talks about the resurrection and the resurrected body in 1 Corinthians 15. In verses 35 and following, he states that our heavenly bodies will be different from our natural bodies, with some stark contrasts. Whereas our earthly bodies are characterized by mortality (being susceptible to death), our resurrected bodies will be characterized by immortality (we will not die).

Likewise, while our earthly bodies grow old and begin to decay (can I get a witness?), they will become incorruptible.

“For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.” (1 Corinthians 15:53, NLT)

Also, where our natural bodies are prone to weakness (ask anyone over 30), our resurrected bodies will be characterized by strength (1 Corinthians 15:43).

Another comparison is that now we have a natural body, but then we will have a spiritual body, or have a body fit for heaven. This probably doesn’t mean that we will be like ghosts without a body at all and floating around unable to interact with things around us. After all, God's Word says that our bodies will be like Jesus' body:

“And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.” (1 Corinthians 15:49, NIV)

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:1–2, NIV)

So our bodies will be like Jesus' body.

Jesus, after His resurrection, told them to touch Him and to watch Him eat, demonstrating that He was not merely a spirit (Luke 24:37-43). We will be able to eat, but we may not have to! That's great news if you love food - you apparently can eat all you want but you will always look your best!

Think of it like this: just as our natural body is fitted for this present life in our physical universe (our "earth suit"), the spiritual body will be that which will best suit us for the eternal existence we are destined for in our eternal abode (our "heaven suit"). Jesus’ resurrected body was capable of entering locked rooms at will (John 20:19). Our earthly body limits us in ways (dimensions?) that our spiritual body will not.

God promises us that Jesus “will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body.” (Philippians 3:21) Our decaying bodies are described with the word dishonor because they bear the mark of the results of sin. Sometimes our bodies are marred due to our own, personal sin, such as a brain that is no longer able to form complete thoughts due to drugs or alcohol abuse. Other times our bodies are marked by the sins of others, such as scar from someone acting violently against us. But these are not the only physical markings of sin. In more general terms, the decaying physical body is the direct result of humanity’s fall into sin.

Had there been no sin, there would be no decay and death.

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” (1 Corinthians 15:56, NIV)

But God, through Christ’s transforming power, is able to raise up His children with new, glorious bodies, completely free from the ravages of sin and possessing the glory of Christ instead.

To summarize, we will look our best and be our best, and in whatever ways our appearance or health has been altered as a result of sin (whether because of overeating or not eating right, hereditary problems, injuries, aging, etc.), these traits will not be carried over into our appearance in the next life. More importantly, the sin nature inherited from Adam will no longer be with us, for we will be made after the holiness of Christ (1 John 3:2).

One final thought, please. I heard Dr. Tony Evans preaching about heaven at a Promise Keeper's meeting years ago and he made the point that whatever race you are on earth, that is the race you will be in heaven. Want to see it for yourself?

“And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”” (Revelation 5:9–10, NIV)

With the glories of heaven waiting for us, discipline your mind to think about it!

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1–4, NIV)

Think About It:

• God wants us to set our minds on things above. How often do you think about heaven?
• Who can you encourage to have heavenly thoughts today? 

Rejoicing, On the Victory Side!

Beau