A Spiritual Body

“It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.”  (1 Corinthians 15:44)

Have you ever seen a dragonfly with its double wings moving like a helicopter from one flower to another?  This amazing creature actually begins its life under water.  For about two years it exists as a shellfish with a long narrow body like a knitting needle.

If you did a cross section on that shellfish you would find that it has two respiratory capacities.  With one it can absorb oxygen from passing water through its body like other shellfish; however, it has another respiratory system that will one day breathe air.

When the two years of its underwater life have ended it rises to the surface of the water, moves to where land begins, dries its magnificent wings in the sun and then begins the second dimension of its existence.

The Apostle Paul writes that we are also designed to live our life in two dimensions and God has provided a body for us to live in each place.  He has given us a body so we can live on earth and a body so we can live in heaven.  Paul labels our earthly body “a natural body” and our heavenly body “a spiritual body.”  He then identifies a third spiritual value:  A spiritual body is a greater value than a natural body. 

Since I have spent several decades trapped in a quadriplegic body I really resonate with Paul when he declares that a spiritual body is prepared for me.  How I look forward to that spiritual body that will not have the limitations of my present body.  With great joy I anticipate the spiritual body God has prepared and Christ has made possible for me.

Do you value your spiritual body?

3 Responses to A Spiritual Body

  1. Cindy Kranich says:

    Dad,
    This is great! It reminds me of the verse I pray for you and mother almost daily–2Cor 4:16. “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” The next verse describes the suffering of this life as “momentary, light affliction” compared with our lives in heaven–oh what glory that will be!! May we live for that day. Love, BooBoo 🙂

  2. Pastor Woodward
    I love the analogy of the dragonfly and did not know all the fascinating facts about them. I love your spiritual word pictures and they help me understand the Bible.

  3. […] a wise perspective on this question I will refer you to an expert, like Dick Woodward (and now you know why we have a dragonfly in the Facts & Faith […]

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