New Bodies

Dear Sir,

I've always understood that when you die, you go to heaven (if you're saved, that is). But our preacher has been talking about when Christ returns and saying the dead will rise in bodily form. Given that flesh rots and some people get cremated, how is this possible?

Namit G. - Los Angeles, CA

Dear Namit,

What you're preacher is telling you is true. However you are looking at facts of our current flesh (i.e., it rots, can be cremated, etc.). When the dead in Christ arise we will all be given new bodies. There is reason to believe that those bodies will resemble the earthly bodies we have had to date. However, there are some aspects of those bodies that our current bodies don't have. For example:

1. Our new bodies will be perfect. They won't age, wear out, or be subject to disease or pain.
2. Our new bodies won't be constrained by the boundaries of time and space.
3. Our new bodies will be supernatural.

The best way to think about these new bodies that we will receive might be to look at Jesus' resurrected body. He still had the nail scars in His hand, and He could still eat food. But He also had the ability to appear and disappear at will. He moved freely between heaven and earth. He didn't get tired or fatigued in His new body.

Take notice of Jesus' resurrected body and look forward to the day when you'll have one of those for yourself!