I apologize if any of the verses I share have already been used but I felt I needed to add my 2 cents worth (probably worth a lot more since the price of a lot of things have gone up lately - but I digress) to this discussion.
I am so glad that I am promised only one death and that is only if Jesus does not return in my lifetime. I live in constant chronic pain, cognition problems (the ability to think and speak logically as well as remember things) as well as fatigue - and these are just a few of the issues that stem from the disease with which I live. I thank God for His blessings each and every day because He suffered far more than I care to even dream about. He set an example, actually, that I look to and try to the best of my ability to emulate. I cannot even imagine the thought of having to do a “do-over” in order to become a more perfect Christian. I don’t have to because that’s what He did for me as He became the last perfect sacrifice - we know this because at the moment Christ breathed His last the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom - He was the final sacrifice!!
3 days later he was resurrected - bodily - not just His soul and in the same way we, too, will be resurrected when He returns!!
1 Corinthians 15:16-17 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;
17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; ayou are still in your sins.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
Philippians 3:21 * who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.*
I can not and will not reject the words that are given to us by Paul. I may not like my body now but when it is resurrected I will be bathed in the Light of our God and what my body looks like will be of no consequence - that I will no longer be in pain and suffering is of major consequence to me!
I will never be perfected on this Earth - if I were to be reincarnated I would still be born with Original Sin and would definitely fall short of God’s Glory. But thanks be to God that His Son took my sins and the sins of all of us on that cross in order to be that final Sacrifice. His blood which He shed on Calvary has become the propitiation for me!! Imagine that!! He did that for ME!! and you and for all people on Earth. Unfortunately there will be those who cannot or will not for whatever reason believe that He did this and will not accept it.
I’m so excited to be with Him!
God bless!
Rita
