I Corinthians 15: 42-44 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Let us say yes to the heavenly man that God has placed in all of us. We are made of a natural body and spiritual body. There are two elements in this one vessel. How can that be? I laugh as I think of a glass of water. Yet in that glass is only the one body of water. Often, one is considered blessed if there is an abundance. To have two bodies in one vessel is indeed a blessing. Is it not? Versus 45 through 49 read; And so it is written, being. The last Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
This passage of scripture reminds me of Dr. Gary Chapman and the Five Love Languages. In this book it details that we each have a love language and it is difficult to love someone in their own love language. The tendency of the human is to extend love in the manner that you experience love. An example if your love language is words of affirmation, then you will extend affirming words. If your love language is touch, then you will extend a loving touch. This is not a problem. The problem comes when the extension of love is not recognized because the love displayed is not how the other person experiences love. So, if I extend a loving touch to someone whose love language is words of affirmation, I might as well be talking in the wind because they will not experience love.
Can we say yes to the heavenly man? Recognize that of these two bodies the heavenly man must be fed God’s love. God’s love is His word. His word gives instruction for how to show and extend His agape love one to another. You see saints as we feed the Heavenly man, he grows stronger like Popeye. I am dating myself. However, we all remember Popeye and Olive Oil. That funny Saturday cartoon where Popeye ate his spinach and suddenly, he had this strength that enabled him to do the unthinkable. This is the tale of the heavenly man. The heavenly man that lives in us as we feast on who, and what God is. What He calls us to do. Not so that we can be glorified. However, so the heavenly man in us may burst forth doing the unthinkable and glorifying our Father. Feeding the hungry when we barely have food on our own table. Clothing those that are in need. Talking words of love to those that despitefully use us. Sowing seeds of loving kindness, gentleness, and meekness, when the natural man wants to sow the opposite.
This natural body was made first. Like Adam. In being the first borne it is stronger. It is faster. It thirsts to be in the forefront. However, just like anything in life worth having. The wait on that heavenly man that is placed within is so much more. The wait on that heavenly man as He feasts on God’s word lives a more peaceful and life-giving life. Why? Because the heavenly man knows the source in such an intimate way, that there is no separation or doubt when life circumstances arise. Saying yes to the heavenly man is swift. It is quick like the response to an unruly child. It is swift to speak scripture to that mountain. It is swift to extend help to our sibling in need. It is swift to reach out to inquire if all is well when we have not seen our brother or sister in a while. That heavenly man says yes. The heavenly man says yes to God’s will and God’s ways for living life. That heavenly man says yes to peace within the walls of turmoil and the waves of storms. The heavenly man says yes to the joy that awaits him on the other side of fear that tries to immobilize him. The heavenly man has faith as he does it afraid.
Let us say yes to the heavenly man. Mark 11:22-24, So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
The bounty that awaits us, the inheritance that we receive form our Father is not to be overlooked or taken for granted. Our word, our belief, our faith in the potter, the creator of it all, is insurmountable. Not for ourselves, and yet those around us, in fellowship or contact with us are influenced and affected. They ae strengthened and encouraged to say yes to the heavenly man. To discover their own heavenly man, deepen and develop a relationship with our Father, and be and create more disciples to be brought back into the kingdom. Say yes to the heavenly man.
UniquelyDesigned1 