It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body...
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
(1 Corinthians 15:44,52-53 KJV)
I couldn't help but hear Big K.R.I.T's "Bigger Picture" playing in my head when I initially wrote this article in my journal. Yes, I am a follower of Christ who has listened to the southern poetic rapper, King Remembered In Time or better known as Big K.R.I.T. I dig his vibey lyrics and smooth flow. However, lately I have opted to listen to primarily gospel artists like Mali Music, Jonathan McReynolds, and Jonathan Traylor. But I don't want to talk about music. I want to talk about the bigger picture.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 15 that there are two bodies: a natural body and a spiritual body. We will one day exchange mortality for immortality, corruption for incorruption. When Christ finally comes back down for the second time, we will all be changed. Heaven and earth will pass away and we will only have two places to call our home... heaven or hell.
It's really as simple as that. That is the point of it all. This is the bigger picture.
But honestly, it's hard to see the bigger picture when you are living in the frame. I know I'm not alone in saying that when I call on God, I'm not necessarily thinking about heaven. I call on Him because I need help while here on earth. It's hard to think about another reality when you are living in this one.
Yet, the truth is Christ will come back one day. I know you've heard it a million times right? Not only have you heard it a million times but it's been said a million times over the last 2,000 years. Some may scoff at the second coming of Christ. But Christ knew people would scoff so He sent His Apostle Peter to say the following:
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
( 2 Peter 3:3-4, KJV)
Don't you see how Christ already knew what people were going to say thousands of years after He left? Skeptics are fulfilling prophecy by their very denial of Him and His second coming. But what's more interesting about scoffers questioning of Christ's delay is that the delay is for them.
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance
(2 Peter 3:8-9, KJV)
Christ is taking His time coming back because for one our perception of time and His perception of time are vastly different. For He is God and we are mere man/woman. He Himself exists outside of time. He was here before time existed; thus, He does not operate within the context of time as we know it.
But most importantly Christ is taking His time for our sake. The delay of the 2nd coming is because He wants as many souls saved as possible before He returns. He is giving us all time to get it together before He comes. Christ is waiting for our repentance.
Isn't it ironic that scoffers deny the 2nd coming of Christ because of the delay but the delay is solely for those same scoffers? Is this not another perfect example of the love of Christ? Not only did He die for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8) but He is also delaying the 2nd coming just because He loves us and desires that none of us to perish.
I know its hard to see the bigger picture. The entire purpose of this ministry is to get as many souls to follow Christ as possible. But that doesn't excuse me from getting side-tracked by life. At times, I forget that the point of it all is to eventually make it to heaven. I suppose sometimes I can't see the forest for the trees. Yet, God has reminded me of the bigger picture today. Thus, I want to remind you.
There is life after life. Christ did come and die for our sins... and He will come back. But because He is patient, the 2nd coming has not come. Because He loves us so, He has delayed His arrival. Yet because no one knows the date or time of His arrival, it is best to watch and pray. Be steadfast and unmovable for His return. For when He comes, time will be no more. Scoffers must remain scoffers and believers will remain believers.
It will be a sad day for some and a glorious day for others. But the fact remains that the day will come. Thus, I pray that you can see the bigger picture before the bigger picture becomes the only picture left.
May God bless you and keep you.