I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to ruling and reigning with our Lord throughout eternity.
Our eternal calling is a representation of a truth we see early on in the Bible in Genesis chapter 2: “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” (Gen. 2:15)

Adam, who was made in God’s image, was created to be God’s steward. A steward is one who manages and administrates on his lord’s behalf. That’s exactly what God asked Adam to do: keep the earth, which means to guard, hedge about, and protect. God gave Adam dominion over the whole earth and commanded him to manage it on His behalf.

Now God put man on the very earth that He cast Satan back into, the same place where the rebellious angelic hosts were consigned. I don’t think this was a mere coincidence or mistake. As God’s stewards, we are to maintain order and bring God’s command to others. It also means that we have to learn how to deal with rebellion on this earth in preparation for our eternal calling.

Yes, rebellion will be put down forever here on earth (1 Cor. 15:24-28, Rev. 21:27), but the Bible didn’t say anything about the universe. There will be an eternal need to keep the peace because if the capacity for rebellion existed in Lucifer – another life form who had the freedom of choice - it will exist in other portions of God’s universal creation.

Just as we are to be peacemakers for God in this world, reconciling others to Him (2 Cor. 5:18-20), we will be peacemakers for God on a universal scale. We will bring God’s light to His universal creation and knowledge of Him to whatever life there may be out there.

You and I are in boot camp being taught how to live by the principles that will enable us to be effective for our Lord in the eternal ages to come. God placed us in this controlled environment so we can learn these lessons in a place where we can’t do any universal damage.

As we lean the principles of scripture, of faith, hope, and love, we are being groomed for our eternal destinies. It is all preparation for what is to come. Every time I think about this stuff, I get amazed! The magnitude of God’s plan is quite astounding!

What Will We Look Like?
If we’re receiving responsibility for ruling and reigning over universal creation, we will need a body that will qualify us for the authority to do that. That’s why our bodies will be glorified.

This is one of the unique things about Christianity. Most world religions teach the immortality of the spirit, not the body. But as Christians, we believe our bodies are going to be with us throughout eternity. First Corinthians 15:42-44 says: “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised incorruption; it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body, and there is a spiritual body.” Hallelujah!

Our bodies are going to be glorified. We’ll get our new bodies when the Rapture takes place. First Corinthians 15:51-52 says, “Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

Walking Through Walls
In Luke 24:39, Jesus mentioned that He had flesh and bones, but He didn’t say anything about blood. Blood is the corrosive agent that has to be removed in the embalming process so the flesh and bones will not deteriorate. Our glorified bodies will be flesh and bone but will not have blood. (I’m not sure what we’ll have flowing in our veins, perhaps the glory of God!)

Our physical bodies, even though flesh and bone, will be able to pass through tangible physical material just as Jesus did when He walked through closed doors in John 20:19 and 20:26.

Eating for Pure Enjoyment
Certain things won’t be required to sustain life in our glorified bodies. We’ll be able to do them just because we have a physical body that has the capacity to enjoy it. For example, after His body was glorified, Jesus didn’t need to eat in order to sustain life, but He ate anyway. He had a meal on the shore with His disciples after He had been glorified (John 21:12-14).

With our glorified bodies, we’ll be able to eat for the pure enjoyment of eating. At the marriage supper of the Lamb, I believe my mom will be there with a pecan pie, and I’ll be able to eat it just for the pure enjoyment of it. Plus, I won’t need to count the calories or run an extra mile or two the next day. I’m really looking forward to that!

Sin’s Effects Removed
What else do we see about a glorified body? Well, we can assume that all the effects of sin and the corruption of the sin-cursed environment will be removed. No more potbellies, receding hair lines, blemished skin, bald spots, or anything of that sort.

You will still look like yourself and be able to recognize your body, but it will look better than what it looks like here on earth (1 Cor. 15:35-38).

I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to ruling and reigning with our Lord throughout eternity. Our glorified bodies are just one way we will be able to carry out and fulfill our duties as God’s universal stewards and peacekeepers. Glory to God! Hallelujah!