Daily Devotional for Saturday, August 23

The Perfection of the Resurrection

“And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly,” 1 Corinthians 15:49.

There are certain things that cause a visceral reaction in us, a reaction that comes from our depths. Two such things happened recently while I was mowing at my parents’ place. Even with the mower running and with ear protection on, I could hear my mother scream. I immediately jumped up to come to her aid. As she was leaving her house, standing in front of her front door, a snake had slid off her decorative wreath onto her shoulder. She screamed a primal scream, and I ran instinctively to help her. It was close, but we survived.

Some things should cause a reaction, just like when the doctor hits below your knee and your leg jerks. Our verse in 1 Corinthians 15 should produce one of those reactions, albeit not a scream and not an instinctive run, but a hallelujah from deep within. We have all borne the image of Adam. We bear the scars, figurative and literal, of being human. Our sin weighs us down as we live like our earthly father. Our bodies break down over time, sometimes way too soon, because of the Fall. We see society in shambles and the Father’s name is not considered holy. We bear Adam’s image, and it is a heavy image to carry.

Thankfully, Jesus also bore that image of man. He bore it perfectly without sin. He bore it blamelessly all the way to, through and beyond the cross. He transformed that image, and we, who are in Christ through faith, are awaiting to be fully transformed into His image. Our sin will be gone. Our brokenness will be repaired. Our hope will be realized. All of the bad stuff will become undone.

Hallelujah, we shall see him! Hallelujah, we shall be changed! This gives us reason to shout.

REFLECTION

Praise is the rational and glorious response to the revelation of Jesus Christ. Respond accordingly.

Jason Rutherford