SCRIPTURE: Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 1 Cor. 15:51-52 ESV

THOUGHT: Paul agrees with John that we are going to be transformed the moment we see Jesus as he sees us (1 John 3:2, see Monday’s devo). It may still mystify us how God will accomplish this feat, but resurrection itself is no longer a mystery. It’s a done deal. Proven by Jesus several times before he walks out of the tomb himself.

Paul and John stand at the intersection of Old Testament worldview and New Testament revelation. In the place between those worlds, between BC and AD, between prophesy and its fulfillment, Jesus has come and in 33 short years, fulfilled the law and prophets, turning lovers-of-God from those who long for a savior into those who await a second appearing.

We are so far on the other side of this revelation that sometimes we grow numb to its shock value. We shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. In an instant, we’ll be the ones between two worlds, between New Testament longing and the Kingdom of God. The next instant everything we’ve always known – every human who serves the King of that Kingdom – will change, transform, become imperishable. Not become a disembodied spirit, but a flesh and bone resurrected and eternal body (Luke 24:39).

All it takes is one more appearance of Jesus, coming back even as he went away: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven (Acts 1:11).”

Until that day, our job isn’t standing around looking up at the sky, but getting busy sharing the good news that he’s coming back again.

SONG: Can You See the Clock (Hoppers) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w9u66K1M4w

PRAYER: Oh Jesus, we long for your coming again, for the restoration of creation and the incredible and immediate change of our bodies and spirits the moment we see you. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.