November 2, 2021 – Click here to listen
I asked my wife yesterday what she thought we would look like in heaven. She gave me a weird look and didn’t seem to understand the question. I elaborated and asked if she thought we would look similar to how we look now or like an apparition or some other form of glorified body. She said maybe we would look like angels. I said, so you think we will have wings? She looked exasperated.
She told me that my mind works differently than others and didn’t know why I was thinking of such things. Hmmm . . . I like to muse about heaven. My belief is that we will appear in human form. While the Bible doesn’t describe in detail the glorified bodies we will receive in heaven, we know that they will be like that of Jesus’ resurrected body. Our human bodies are described in the Bible as perishable, dishonorable, and weak, all due to sin. Our glorified bodies will be imperishable, honorable, and powerful. Our new bodies will no longer be “natural” bodies, subject to decay and death; we will live in “victory over sin and death,” won by Christ on our behalf.
We get a glimpse of what our resurrection bodies will be like when we recall Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances. He still had visible wounds, and His body had solidity, and His disciples could physically touch Him, yet He was able to travel effortlessly and appear and disappear at will. He could go through walls and doors yet could also eat and drink and sit and talk.
Scripture informs us that our “lowly bodies” will be just “like His glorious body” – Philippians 3:21 – who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. I don’t much think we will look like we did when we died. At least I hope for a greatly improved version less the wrinkles and gray hair and maybe even a little handsome. We will be recognizable to others, remember the rich man saw Abraham holding Lazarus the beggar to his bosom and recognized them both right away.
If we take a human form like Adam and Eve, I suppose one might ponder if we will eat and drink in heaven. The Bible indicates that we will enjoy fruit from the Tree of Life and feasting with our Lord.
We will likely be able to enjoy food but will not be driven to it by necessity or fleshly desire. I say this in part because of the appearance of Jesus to His Disciples.“And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.” Yum . . . There are many questions and few answers concerning the appearance of our perfected bodies, but one thing is sure, just as our earthly bodies are perfectly suited to life on earth, our resurrected bodies will be suited for life in eternity.
My good friend TK Wetherell and I made a covenant with each other several years prior to his passing. Our pact was whichever of us got to heaven first would scout out all the good fishing holes so when we reunite, we wouldn’t have to waste time. I hope he has done so, and I look forward to fishing with him again. Jesus loved fishermen and He liked to eat fresh fish and I have a hunch there will be fish and fishing in heaven. But, what if I’m wrong and there is no fishing in heaven? Hmmm . . . I suppose I need to get busy and do more fishing here on this planet while I can, (just in case) . . .
Matthew 17:2
And he was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him.