Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
1 corinthians 15:50
Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come” (Mat. 6:10). And one day, His kingdom will come, and it will last forever. Isaiah prophesied, “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore” (Isa. 9:7).
Christ will establish a glorious kingdom. A kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. A kingdom in which His reign will be uncontested. A kingdom that will last forever.
But to enjoy an everlasting kingdom, you would need a body that lasts forever. And believers on earth don’t have it. Our souls grow in likeness to Christ as we walk with Him, but our bodies wear out like everyone else’s. That’s why Paul says, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable” (1 Cor. 15:50).
And what about believers in heaven? They don’t have the resurrection body either. Their souls are consciously enjoying the presence of Jesus. But souls without bodies cannot enjoy all that God has prepared for those who love Him.
Right now, the only person who enjoys life in a resurrected body is Jesus Christ. Believers on earth don’t have it. Believers in heaven don’t have it either. So how will they and we be able to enjoy God’s kingdom?
The answer is that they and we will receive resurrected bodies (bodies designed for everlasting life), and we will receive this gift when Jesus Christ returns in power and glory.
What is one thing about Jesus’ everlasting kingdom that you are looking forward to?
