Posted by John Reese
NOTE: Last weekend Pastor Bill encouraged us to imagine heaven, and shared scriptures about our new and glorified bodies. That message prompted long-time CTR member and former firefighter John Reese to write about the freedom he will find as he runs into his Father’s arms!
John Reese with his children. A diving accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. Through his trials, he came to know Jesus.
I can only imagine the ever-increasing joy, the sheer exultation, the newly restored and glorified body, the promise and the very reality of no shame, no pain, no sorrow, no sin etc.
To be freed from the curse and so many of the earthly constraints we have will be bliss. It is as the Scriptures say, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9). The former things will pass away.
But chiefly, and I mean this in the most serious way, I cannot wait to see my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, face-to-face…! I am panting for that moment! To be finally, reunited with my beloved Bridegroom who is altogether Supreme and merciful and glorious in every way.
Man, it just blows me away! I’ve replayed this moment over and over in my head. All I can think of doing is falling at His feet and worshiping Him in gratitude, praise and honor. That would be the ultimate service I would want to do after being restored in the new body. I would want to first use my new body to fall prostrate on my belly, prone in a posture of worship, kissing the feet of my great God… or doing whatever He would want me to do!
Then after I’ve worshiped Him for as long as I can imagine; I would relish the opportunity to look at Jesus face-to-face and to stare into His eyes. I want to embrace Him. I really do feel like Job and many others. His desire was to see His Redeemer face-to-face. “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27).
I have many thoughts about getting a new body. I wonder about the limitations given to it. Will we be able to appear suddenly in different places just as Jesus did? Will there be travel limitations with the glorified body? I wonder how our new bodies will interact with our new environment.
I dream of being able to flex my hands, to stretch them out and grasp things, to utilize my once strong arms and legs as I used to, except even more. Physically, I can’t wait to exert my new body to its limits, to run beside a fast animal, to play an old or new sport, to hone old talents and learn new ones. I’ll love to simply stretch out my limbs, to move my body at will, to regain functionality and to finally feel the things around me. No more paralysis, only ability. I’ll be able to feel the ground on my feet, to feel the sand between my toes. I’ll be able to stand up tall. I’ll have full movement and sensation, no more guessing if my legs are cold or if my arm is touching something. To be able to have the full use of my lungs again, to breathe in and out deeply, to shout, to sing with great joy, all of it will be precious.
I’ll love to be able to run, jump and swim again, to exercise, to glorify God with hobbies and work. I dream of being able to physically work for the Lord, to build, to make things. I wonder what kinds of projects He will have for us, what He’ll put us in charge of. I think about all the activities Christ will have for us there. I believe there’ll be many wonderful things there to enjoy that are already here on this earth, but they’ll be even more wonderful, and I believe that God will be constantly in the process of creating, constantly showing us new things and revealing new depths to Himself.
I can’t even begin to put it all into words. I wonder what heaven and the new earth will be like? I imagine heaven having the huge cubic dimensions it says in Scripture, and I wonder about what creations that great city will have in it. I imagine the incredibly high level of fellowship and kinship with others, each of us serving the King and each other. Everyone will be gracious hosts. Likewise, I wonder about the new earth, and I imagine it looking like one big Garden of Eden… What kinds of beautiful aspects will the heavenly great outdoors have if nature on this earth currently takes our breath away?
It’ll be truly amazing, and that’s such an understatement! His love astounds me.
