THIS is a momentous question, fraught with answers of the richest blessing for the Lord’s people.
(1.) He will “change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” (Phil. 3:21.) This poor frame, liable to constant ills, decaying day by day, having the sweat of the curse and the lines of guilt upon it turning gradually to dust―this body of humiliation is to be changed. Jesus Himself―no angel hand― Jesus Himself will give it the fashion, the beauty, and the perfection of His own glorious body. The shining of His countenance is “above the brightness of the sun” at mid-day, and He will make every single believer―the weakest―the youngest―as well as the strongest and oldest, glorious like Himself.
(2.) He will give to each saint a full knowledge of Himself. Now we understand but little of His wisdom―little of His love―little of His heart. “Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Cor. 13:12.)
(3.) He will take us to be forever with Himself. Here He is absent in person from us, and here, alas, we too often wander in spirit from Him, but when He comes we shall for “ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4:17.)
(4.) He will bring us home-bring us to the special place which He Himself has prepared for us, up there, in His Father’s house, so that where He is there we “may be also.” (John 14:2, 3.)
(5.) He will give us again our loved ones, whose spirits are now with Him, but whose bodies are in the grave. We shall be “together with them in the clouds.” (1 Thess. 4:17.) We shall be “together” once more! Severed now―joined then once more, and “forever.” Never to weep at parting again. No, blessed be the Lord, never!
Was ever prospect sweeter? And it is all true, every word, for He has said it. His own great love for us will never rest until He has done for us all that He promises, and then “He shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied,” and we shall rest in His love. It will be impossible to want any one single thing at that day―the heart will be full.