Bible
Study: 1 Maccabees 6, 1 to 13. And Luke
20, 27 to 40.
Today’s
readings give us a glimpse of what we shall be like in heaven. We shall take on
a glorious body different from that which we are in right now. Then, we shall
no longer have to marry or be married, neither would there be need to have
children because we shall be like the Angels.
This is
what John was trying to relate to us when he noted in 1st John 3,
verse 2: “Beloved, we are God's children
now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears
we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” Notice that even Mary
Magdalene, a close friend of Jesus could not recognise him initially after his resurrection?
It was not until he called her name that her eyes (that is, her spiritual
sense) were opened and she then recognised Jesus.
The
Saducees who had no idea of what heaven will be like (thinking it is just a
place like this earth) tried to bring a tricky case to Jesus to show that
people can’t possibly rise from the dead. A woman had been married seven times
to different men who died having no children from any. Now if she dies, whose
will she be? Jesus laughs at their creativity and tells us that in heaven,
there will no need for marriage.
Consider that
this flesh is source of all the sins that we commit and then bear in mind that
this same flesh is what we shall have to drop and allow to decay when we die. It
means that it would be foolish to spend all of our energies taking care of this
flesh, living in anxiety and worry about what we are to eat, or drink or wear. It
is this very flesh that creates a desire to bond with people, to marry or have
children, it is this flesh that brings about lust for others and desire for
illicit entertainment often leading to sin yet in heaven, we would no longer
need to marry or have children. This is because we would have dropped the flesh
and its longings here in the earth six feet under the ground.
If this
flesh will no longer be needed in heaven, then why do we allow the flesh become
an obstacle on a way from attaining heaven? No wonder Jesus said in Mark 8,
verse 36: “For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world (that is, in
the flesh) and forfeit his life (that is what remains with us in the resurrection)?
We do not have to allow the flesh rule us and it is there today and will be
buried tomorrow. But we are to feed our spirit and take care of it because it
will last forever. Romans 6, 12 to 13 tells us: “Let not sin therefore reign in
your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. Do not yield your members
to sin as instruments of wickedness, but yield yourselves to God as men who
have been brought from death to life.” Our true life is not that of this flesh but
the spirit.
Knowing
that in heaven, we shall no longer have to be under these bodily conditions
(marriage and having kids), it makes perfect sense not to regard them as the
ultimate and essence of life, that is, for instance for those who are not
married or without kids, they are not to look down on themselves or assume they
have not achieved anything.
King Antiochus
in our first reading this morning comes down with depression upon hearing that
Israel defeated his army and cleansed the temple from the defilements that he
had erected. This was a man who taught he was greater than God and that he
could force people to renounce their religion. Who can battle with the Lord?
Who can battle with the Lord? I say No body. I say No body.
Let us
Pray:
Lord
Jesus, grant me victory daily over myself that by my life, I give you the
worship that you truly deserve. Amen.
Good morning.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.
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