After Jesus returns all our striving for Christformation will be over and we will finally enter our time of rest (Hebrews 4 and Rev. 14:13). Our internal struggle against sin will be complete and we will experience the overwhelming bliss of perfect peace. No possession on this present earth can come close to the value of our future Christformation. This is why God instructs us to “set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13, ESV).
Christformation is promised many times in the New Testament. “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29, ESV). 1 Corinthians 15:49 states: “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (ESV). Philippians 3:20-21 promises: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.” (See also Luke 6:40; Eph. 4:13.)
How exhilarating will it be to have a body “like his glorious body?” We will have new resurrected physical bodies, just as Jesus had a new body when he was resurrected. The New Testament promises us resurrected bodies in several passages: Luke 14:14; 20:35-36; John 5:28; 6:40, 44, 54; Acts 23:6; 24:14; Romans 8:10, 21; 1 Corinthians 15:35-56; 2 Corinthians 4:14; 5:1-5; Philippians 3:10; Revelation 20:4-6.
Ancient philosophers taught that physical bodies are inferior to the spirit and must be permanently shed one day. But when God raised Jesus from the dead with a new body he forever established that physical bodies are invaluable. Moreover, it is God’s design that spirit and body be integrated so that we will have a “spiritual body” (1 Cor. 15:44). It will be a body that does not get sick or diseased, or decay. It will never slow us down but rather be a source of energy and joy forever. It will be a body that can “endure” the colossal blessings that God will pour on us in eternity. Our present bodies would fail if they met the immensity of God. Our future bodies will soak up God’s blessings with bliss.
As we absorb these truths we will find greater peace as well as strength for abiding in Christ in every decision we make.
