A Glorious Transformation

A Glorious Transformation

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

I Thessalonians 4:17

Yesterday we considered the greatest resurrection which Christ will ever perform. When He returns, He will raise from the dead an innumerable company of people. The next group to which Paul refers are all those who are still alive on the earth at the return of Christ, specifically the redeemed. He says, ‘Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.’ This ‘catching up’ also involves a glorious transformation. Paul refers to this transformation elsewhere in his discussion of the resurrection of the dead. In I Corinthians 15 we read, ‘Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.’ This describes, in clear language the transformation of the redeemed to having glorified bodies. For the redeemed this is an exciting prospect. For us, the future holds no fear. We are Christ’s and He is ours. He has redeemed us by Free and Sovereign Grace. His Plan and Purpose for us are unchanging. We need not know every detail of the future so long as we know the One Who holds the future. This enables us to face the future, both Immediate and long-term with joy and expectation. Christ has said He will come again. Everything else He has promised He has infallibly performed. He will do this thing as well. He will raise the dead, and ‘we shall all be changed.’

Our Glorious Living Christ,
we rejoice at the prospect of Your return.
We praise You that You will transform us into Your Image,
as You Alone are able.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning