1 Corinthians 15:50 “…flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God…”
Growing up in Lake Mills, WI I spent many summer days at the local beach, swimming and playing with my brothers and our friends. I still enjoy going swimming, but there is one very important fact to remember when it comes to water–we can’t breath under water. I know it doesn’t come as a surprise, but we weren’t made to live under water, and we lack the necessary physical structures to survive in that environment.
In much the same way, we are not capable of living in heaven in our current, physical bodies. It is not that God will refuse to let us in, but that our bodies are incompatible with the glories of heaven, and Paul says exactly that in 1 Cor. 15:50 when he says, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.”
Some people believe that this means we won’t have physical bodies in heaven, but Paul has something else in mind. Our physical body is like a seed which is planted in the ground. The plant which grows from the seed is markedly different from the seed itself, and so our new bodies will be, must be markedly different from our current, physical bodies. While we are not now able to enter the heavenly realm, one day believers will receive resurrected bodies which are not subject to sickness, pain, disease, or death. In those bodies we will most certainly enjoy the blessings of eternity!
“Live in Christ, die in Christ, and the flesh need not fear death.” – John Knox
Scriptures to read: Romans 8:18-30