The Hope of the Future
Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)
Closing out the chapter, Paul reminds the believers at Philippi that their true home is not on earth but in heaven, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” The goals and prizes of this world, then, should not be the pursuits of a believer’s life, but rather, to grow in the knowledge of their Savior, Jesus. Also, because they are citizens of heaven, believers are to live godly lives while here on earth, being ambassadors of God’s kingdom, sharing the gospel to those around them.
Also, because of this truth, even when believers face difficulties and trials in this life, even diseases and pain, this earthly body is only a temporary shell. When a believer breathes their last breath on earth, they will breath their first breath of eternity in a new transformed body with no pain or suffering, being in the presence of their Savior, as seen in verse 21, “He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.” How do we know this promise to be true? Christ resurrected, so believers too will be resurrected and receive a body that will never die, just like Christ, as seen in 1 John 3:2, “Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is.”
In light of this promise and truth, may we live the lives given to us here on earth to glorify God and make Him known to the world. May we be encouraged by the hope that even when we face trials and diseases and pain, we know that this pain and suffering is only temporary and will fade away when we are in the presence of the Lord and are given transformed perfect bodies.
Blessings,
Isaac De Guzman
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