Setting Sail on a Quest(ion) about Heaven and Hell – “Shine like the Sun” (Part VIII)

Sermon Title: Setting Sail on a Quest(ion) – “Shine like the Sun”

Good News Statement: Jesus transforms us into a resurrected body

Preached: Sunday, July 20^th, 2025 at Dogwood Prairie and Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSVUE): Luke 24:36-43 Heaven and Hell: two words that have captured the curiosity, imagination, and wonder of millions of people across several centuries. One of those words brings forth comfort and peace, an image of green pastures and still waters, and hope and eternal salvation. The other word subjugates fear, darkness, and a feeling of being at the lowest point. Today, we are given a choice. May the hearing and understanding of this scripture add a blessing to your life.

 

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

36 While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 Yet for all their joy they were still disbelieving and wondering, and he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.

 

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

 

The following Sermon Series will be drawn from the words of Biblical Scholar, Alan W. Gomes, who explores 40 Questions about Heaven and Hell in his book 40 Questions about Heaven and Hell.

Alan W. Gomes (edited by Benjamin L. Merkle), 40 Questions About Heaven and Hell, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 2018.

 

 

 

Introduction:

In the ethereal[1] expanse of the cosmos, there exists a realm beyond mortal comprehension: it’s known as heaven. It is not a place dictated by religious dogma or mythical tales but rather a destination for all souls after their mortal journey concludes. In this celestial sanctuary, souls find themselves liberated from the constraints of physical existence: those who were tired, weak, and carrying heavy burdens have found rest (Matthew 11:28). They are met with an abundance of peace, harmony, and boundless opportunities for growth and fulfillment. Yet, amidst this infinite splendor, a conflict simmers—one not of divine decree, but of existential choice. Among the myriad of souls that populate Heaven, there exists a divergence in belief regarding its nature. Some perceive Heaven as a utopia, a paradise where individual desires reign supreme, and personal satisfaction is paramount. Others hold a different perspective. They believe that Heaven’s true essence lies in collective goodwill, in the shared bonds of love, empathy, and compassion. Is that really what Heaven is like?

For some, the opposite of this heavenly celestial sanctuary is Hell: the abode of the “unredeemed dead.”[2] In its archaic sense, the term Hell refers to the underworld, a deep pit or distant land of shadows where the dead are gathered. From the underworld its most terrible precincts sinners pay—some say eternally—the penalty for their crimes. The underworld is often imagined as a place of punishment rather than merely of darkness and decomposition because of the widespread belief that a moral universe requires judgment and retribution—crime must pay. More broadly, Hell figures in religious cosmologies as the opposite of heaven, “the nadir[3] of the cosmos,”[4] and the land where God is not. Hell itself is the preeminent symbol of evil, alienation, and despair. Is that really what Hell is like?

Heaven and Hell: two words that have captured the curiosity, imagination, and wonder of millions of people across several centuries. One of those words brings forth comfort and peace, an image of green pastures and still waters, hope and renewal, grace and eternal salvation, empathy and compassion. The other word subjugates fear, worry, devastation, darkness, despair, and a feeling of being at the lowest point—walking in the shadows of the valley of death. These two words have caught the attention of both religious and non-religious persons throughout the ages: asking what is heaven like and what is hell like? Even those who have chosen to believe in the words of Jesus Christ wonder about heaven and hell: asking what do I need to do to be in heaven and what do I need to do to avoid hell?

For the next few weeks, with the help of Alan W. Gomes, a professor of theology at Talbot School of Theology, we will be taking time to examine both Heaven and Hell from a biblical perspective. In his book, 40 Questions about Heaven and Hell, Gomes asks questions such as: “What should we conclude about those who claim to have seen heaven or hell?, What will the resurrected body be like?, What is hell like?, What is heaven like?, and How can a God of love send people to an eternal hell?” Most of us are familiar with the concepts of Heaven and Hell, but yet we still have questions. The time has come to examine a few of those questions as we explore the celestial sanctuary and dive into the abode of the unredeemed.

 

Body:

In 1979 cofounders of Theora Design, Ora and Theo Coster, released a two player board game in which players each take turns guessing the identity of the other’s chosen character. Each player starts the game with a board that includes cartoon images of 24 people and their first names with all the images standing up. Each player selects a card of their choice from a separate pile of cards containing the same 24 images. The objective of the game is to be the first to determine which card one’s opponent has selected. Players alternate asking various yes or no questions to eliminate some of the candidates, such as: “Does your person wear a hat?” “Does your person wear glasses?” “Is your person a male?” Is your person of a female?” “Does your person have red hair?” “Does your person have blue eyes?” The player will then eliminate candidates (based on the opponent’s response) by flipping those images down until only one is left. The name of his game is Guess Who?,  and it made its American debut in 1982.[5]

I was thinking about this game this week as I was considering our next question related to heaven and hell. Have you ever wondered what sort of body you will have in heaven? If you could choose the type of body that you would occupy in heaven as you strolled along the streets of gold and laid down in green pastures, what kind or what sort of characteristics would you choose? Would you be tall or short or somewhere in the middle? Would you choose the body you had in your younger years or would you be okay with the body you have now? What color hair would you have? What color eyes would you have? Would you want to wear glasses or not wear glasses? Would you want to look like a famous person? Would you want to look like someone you know? What do you want to look like in heaven?

I can’t imagine what heaven would look like if everyone who was allowed to pass through those pearly gates got to choose—tell God—how they wanted to look? There might be a lot of look-a-likes…and playing Guess Who? might be a popular game played around the table. For centuries, people—non-believers, believers, scholars, and every day followers of Christ—have wondered what sort of body an individual will have when they enter heaven. The Bible doesn’t offer great details about what the “body” will look like. As a matter of fact, in several passages, specifically in the New Testament, we are told that when we die and enter heaven, we will be given a “resurrected body.” What does it mean to have a “resurrected body”?

The question we ponder today is “What will the resurrection body be like?” From this question, we will look at a few scripture passages, and then attempt to answer the following questions: Will our bodies be young in heaven? Will Jesus and we have scars in heaven? and What does this mean for us today?

 

Movement One: Biblical Resurrection…

For starters, let’s hear how scripture answers the question regarding our resurrected bodies. But first, let me remind you of a simple statistic that I shared with you all a few weeks ago.[6] As reported by Thomas Hargrove and Guido H. Stempel III, “Most Americans don’t believe they will experience a resurrection of their bodies when they die, putting them at odds with a core teaching of Christianity.”[7] The researchers found that “only 36 percent of the 1,007 adults interviewed…said ‘yes’ to the question: ‘Do you believe that, after you die, your physical body will be resurrected someday?’ Fifty-four percent said they do not believe and 10 percent were undecided.”[8] From this finding, the researchers also noted that there has been a “declining belief in Christ’s own literal resurrection from the grave.”[9] A 2012 Rasmussen poll showed that 64 percent of Americans believe in Christ’s literal resurrection as a historical fact.[10] It seems that Americans today struggle with both the resurrection of Jesus and the idea that Christians will be bodily resurrected in heaven. If they can’t believe in one, then how can they believe in the other? Let me remind you, though, that the belief in Christ and God has risen over the past three years to around 63%. So these percentages from 2006 and 2012 may be a little different today. And let me also remind you, that even though some are skeptical about the resurrection of Christ, “I not only believe in it; but I am counting on it to happen,” to quote Pastor Adam Hamilton. Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Do you believe that you can be resurrected as well?

This leads us to examine a few scripture passages. Scripture teaches clearly that Christ’s resurrection—which appears in all four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—is the pattern for our own resurrection. Consider Philippians 3:21, in which Paul declares that the Lord Jesus “will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Our lowly, imperfect, body will become a resurrected body like the glorious body of Christ, according to Paul. We will have a new body in heaven! In 1 Corinthians 15:49, where Paul is specifically discussing the nature of Christ’s resurrection body and of ours, he states, “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” The apostle John makes the same point in 1 John 3:2 when he states, “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.”

Our resurrected body will be like the body of Christ: it will bear his image, his glory, his grace, his salvation, his love, his perfection. Both Paul and John are inviting us to consider the newness we will have once we receive our resurrected body. What this means is that when we examine the biblical description of Christ’s post-resurrection body, we may take them as specifying what our own resurrection bodies will be like. Scripture doesn’t stop here…

Jesus extends his interpretation of the resurrected body when teaching the Pharisees, Scribes, Elders, and those around about the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. In John 2:19-21, Jesus says, “’Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking about the temple of his body.” The word translated “body” in verse 21 is a form of the Greek word soma. This word is used to designate a body of flesh. The facts themselves bear this out: the Jews and Romans did indeed destroy Jesus’ body of flesh through crucifixion. However, Jesus was raised three days later.

If the Jews were really listening to what Jesus was saying, then they would have known that Jesus wasn’t talking about the earthly Temple of Jerusalem. Rather, he was speaking about the temple of his body. His body would be raised, would be resurrected, in glory. The Jews worked so hard to maintain the physical structure of the Temple that they couldn’t get past the notion that it would be destroyed. And how was Jesus going to raise it back up in three days? The Jews are just like us sometimes: we spend so much time focused on how we look on the outside that we forget that how we look on this earth doesn’t compare to the how we are going to look in heaven with our resurrected body: glorified, renewed, hopeful, “shining like the sun” (Matthew 13:43), and “shining like the brightness of the sky above” (Daniel 12:3). Don’t get me wrong, we need to take care of our earthly body but our earthly body shouldn’t withhold all of our attention. Jesus’ temple is his body and his body, just like ours, will be resurrected. But what are we most concerned about: the earthly body or our heavenly body?

Some people tend to ask, “What was the resurrected body of Jesus like?” This is a great question! Let’s read Luke’s account of Jesus’ resurrection appearance to his disciples. Luke 24:36-43 states,  “While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. Yet for all their joy they were still disbelieving and wondering, and he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.”

In one of Jesus’ appearances to his disciples after his resurrection, they were frightened and supposed that they were seeing a spirit or ghostly figure. Jesus downplays their assertion by saying, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see.” Jesus is inviting the disciples to reach out touch him and to see that what is before them is not some sort of spirit, but a physical body. Jesus continues, “For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” At this point, Jesus is not a spirit or a ghost—as he was mistakenly described as by his disciples while walking on the water (Matthew 14:26-31). And ironically, Jesus says something similar in that moment as he does in the room with his disciples: he said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Jesus is drawing the disciples back to a previous moment to not only highlight that he knows them but that he is the same person that they saw walking on water, that had a meal with them, that was crucified, and that was laid in the tomb and that stands before them with a physical resurrected body that he is inviting them to reach out and touch.

J. A. Schep insightfully observes that Jesus spoke of his “flesh and bones” to emphasize the body’s “most solid parts; they give shape to the body, can be seen, touched, and handled, whereas the blood cannot.”[11] Paul emphasizes the same idea in 1 Corinthians 15:50, “I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” Paul is suggesting that humans in their present weak and corruptible condition cannot enter heaven—receive their resurrected body—without first undergoing a transformation.

Jesus was doing everything he could to persuade his disciples that he was real. That his resurrected body was something they could touch, see, and handle: he was really there. And then (like any good Methodist), Jesus proves how real he is by having a meal: eating a piece of broiled fish (Luke 24:40). Not only can the disciples see Jesus, hear Jesus, touch Jesus, and probably smell Jesus, but now they are witnessing Jesus eat the same food as they eat. “O taste and see that the Lord is good…” is what the Psalmist proclaims (Psalm 34:8).  In John 21:9, the disciples find Jesus on the shore of Galilee cooking fish and bread over a charcoal fire after being resurrected.[12] What else does Jesus need to do to prove that his resurrection is real, that he is not just some spirit or ghost?

The resurrection body of Jesus is real: it’s whole, it’s complete, it’s present, and it represents what our resurrection body will be like. It won’t be something that is meaningless, empty, or without sustenance like a spirit or ghost: our resurrection body will be real. According to scripture, our resurrected body will like the glorious body of Jesus Christ: real and transformed.[13]

 

Movement Two: Will Our Resurrected Bodies Be Young?

Now, some of you may be saying to yourself, “If my resurrected body is a transformation, then what age will my resurrected body be?” While the Bible doesn’t explicitly state the exact age of our bodies in heaven, it does say that we will have new, transformed bodies that are free from decay and aging. This could explain why Jesus says in Matthew 18:3, “What I’m about to tell you is true. You need to change and become like little children. If you don’t, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” If this is true, then maybe heaven is filled with people at their younger age.

Many theologians speculate that we will be resurrected in a state of youthful perfection, possibly around the age of Jesus during his ministry (30-33 years old). If this true, then what about Moses who, at 120 years old, was still full of vim and vigor: “His eyes were not weak nor his strength gone” as Deuteronomy 34:7 indicates? What about Methuselah, who lived 969 years? Maybe in heaven he will look like he did when he was 500 years old. Others believe we might all be resurrected at the same age, regardless of our age at death. And yet others believe that we will be resurrected at the age upon which we die. The Bible does not specify the exact age at which we will be in heaven, leaving room for interpretation and speculation.

Again, the Bible does not specifically answer this question. Will babies and children who die still be babies and children in heaven? What about elderly people who die—do they remain elderly in heaven? Some have guessed that, at the resurrection, babies are given a body that is “fast-forwarded” to the “ideal age,” and those who die at an old age will have a body that is “rewound” to the prime of life. If this is what happens, then no one in heaven will appear as a child awaiting development, and no one will appear as a centenarian.

We all imagine that heaven will be a place where we will be forever young. What that “youth” will look like is anyone’s guess. It’s probably pointless to assign a numerical value to our apparent “age” in heaven. It’s enough to know that God has a plan to transform us. Referencing 1 John 3:2 again, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

Whatever age we appear to be in heaven, we will be made perfect. We will be sinless, and our bodies will be remade flawless. Does that mean we will have no wrinkles in the skin? No age spots? No gray hair? We’ll have to wait and see. We know that all traces of human fallenness will be gone, and we will finally be everything God intended us to be, to the praise of His glory. I don’t think age matters in heaven. If Jesus shares with the Sadducees, those who don’t believe in the resurrection, that marriage, as we know it, will not exist in heaven (Luke 20:34-36), then why would age matter? People will have their speculations, their opinions, their beliefs, when it comes to suggesting how old someone will be in heaven, which is fine. However, should we be more concerned with how old we will be in heaven more than our concern of making sure we get to heaven?

Don’t get me wrong, it is fascinating to think about our age in heaven, but I don’t think that should be our main focus. If you want to get to heaven because you want to feel younger, then I believe you are missing the point on how rewarding and victorious it is to simply know that we have the chance, every day of our life, to live has if we plan on making it to heaven: standing before those pearly gates, walking on the streets of gold, seeing streams of living water, laying down in green pastures, and worshipping the resurrected Christ. I guess we will have to wait and see when we all get to heaven.

 

Movement Three: Jesus Has Scars In Heaven?

Another fascinating question to ponder about our resurrected body is the question focused on the scars of Jesus: “If Jesus’ resurrected body revealed the holes in his hands and side, will our own scars be seen on our resurrected body?” If so, does that mean you aren’t made “perfect” in heaven? From our scripture passage for today, we read that Jesus showed his disciples “his hands and his feet” (Luke 24:40). Jesus, in his resurrected body, showed his disciples his hands and feet to show them the holes that were created when he was nailed to the cross. In the Gospel of John, we read that Thomas will not believe that Jesus was resurrected unless he sees and touches the wounds on Jesus’ hands and side. So, when Jesus appears in his resurrected body, Jesus invites Thomas to touch his wounds (John 20:24-29). Does this mean that scars are allowed in heaven?

Needless to say, though, aren’t we told in the twenty-first chapter of the Book of Revelation that there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain in heaven because the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:4). If scars represent a former way of life and quite possibly pain, does this mean that in the new heaven our resurrected body will be perfect: spotless and seamless and scar-less? Let’s dig a little deeper…

The Bible does not specifically tell us that Jesus, now in heaven, has retained the scars of his crucifixion. We can’t be absolutely sure, but we believe he does still have the scars—the only scars anywhere in heaven—based on a few clues in Scripture. When Jesus rose from the dead, his resurrected, glorified body still had the scars. Again he invited Thomas, who had doubted the resurrection, to see and feel the scars of crucifixion: “Put your finger here,” Jesus said; “see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe” (John 20:27). Jesus’ scars were visible and touchable, post-resurrection, to prove that he was real, even after death. John’s description of Jesus in the first part of the book of Revelation does not mention any scars or wounds (Revelation 1:12–16). Of course, the description is quite symbolic, emphasizing Jesus’ glory, power, and majesty. Later in the same book, Jesus is pictured as “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6), bearing scars and wounds.

If Jesus still has the scars of crucifixion in heaven, why might he have chosen to retain them? The scars borne by our Savior represent several profoundly important things: First, the scars are an eternal witness to the Incarnation of the Son of God. Since his Incarnation, Christ remains in the flesh forever. Just as the Son lost none of His divinity when He came to earth, so he lost none of his humanity when he returned to heaven.[14]

Second, the scars reveal why Jesus came to earth: to be a sacrifice for us. As Jesus said, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). He came to suffer for us, to save us from sin. Do you remember the words of Isaiah 53:5: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus’ scars of crucifixion attest to his sacrifice, the reason why he came to earth.

Third, the scars reveal that God loved us while we were still sinners. The sin of mankind put Jesus on the cross. As he was being arrested, Jesus told His enemies, “This is your hour—when darkness reigns” (Luke 22:53). And the world itself grew dark when he was on the cross (Luke 23:44). Evil scarred Jesus, and those scars are proof that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Fourth, the scars Jesus still bears in heaven reveal that He suffered as we do in this world. He knows our pain. He wept with those who wept (John 11:35). He resisted against sin unto the point of bloodshed (Hebrews 12:4). He is our High Priest who understands our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). The scars signify that death has been defeated. The scars show that our final victory is in him. “‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ . . . But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55, 57).These scars are seen as a source of comfort and hope for believers.

I believe that Jesus will have scars in heaven, but what I struggle with is fully believing that we will have scars in heaven. Will I have the scar on my elbow from when I crashed my bike? Will I have the scars from my appendicitis and bowl obstruction? Will I have the many scars from my cats? Will I need glasses? Jesus tells us that he has prepared a table for us in the presence of our enemies (Psalm 23:5). Are these enemies those who I saw and treated as enemies but God saw them as beloved children? Are these enemies the physical, mental, and emotional scars that brought me pain and suffering on earth but are no longer present in heaven; therefore, seeing them for the last time at the table? Will I have scars to remind myself of the journey and life God gave me that helped me grow closer to him? Do the scars of Jesus bear all my earthly scars so that my resurrected body will be perfect and spotless?

This question reminds me of a question that I was asked one Sunday: “Do people in heaven only see our good behavior on earth?” Scripture doesn’t directly answer this question; however a few passages may shed some light. Hebrews 12:1 refers to “a great cloud of witnesses” surrounding believers, which is interpreted by some as referring to deceased saints who are now in heaven, watching and encouraging those on Earth. In Luke 15:7, Jesus speaks of “rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents.” This implies that those in heaven are aware of people repenting on Earth. Revelation 6:10 shows martyred saints in heaven asking God to judge those on Earth who persecuted them, which suggests they are aware of the injustices they faced on Earth and the lack of judgment. In Luke 9:30-31, Moses and Elijah, long departed from Earth, appeared to Jesus and seemed aware of what was transpiring on Earth. It is apparent that those in heaven know what is happening on earth. And I believe that if those in heaven can see what is happening on earth, than they must see both the good and bad. If those in heaven are able to see the scars of Jesus—the earthly torture that left him eternally wounded for our transgressions—and still the goodness and greatness of heaven, then certainly they can witness all that is happening on earth. Unlike the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, who Jesus kept from recognizing him, I don’t think we are kept from seeing all of God’s creation when we are in heaven.

Ultimately, the scars which Jesus endured during his crucifixion are more than just scars: they speak of the greatest love ever (John 15:13). Without the event that occasioned those scars, no one else would be in heaven. Those scars saved your life.

 

Movement Four: What Does This Mean For Us…

The last question we need to ask ourselves is, “What does this all mean for us today?” For that we return to 1 Corinthians 15. Paul notes, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 15:50). This means that humans in their present weak and corruptible condition cannot go there without first undergoing a transformation. A number of biblical texts characterize the transformed resurrection body with words and expressions such as “shine like the sun” (Matthew 13:43); “glory” and “glorious” (1 Corinthians 15:43; Philippians 3:21); and “shine like the brightness of the sky above” (Daniel 12:3). In our resurrected body, we will be transformed into a glory that shines brightly!

A few verses later, Paul notes, “We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:51-54).  The meaning of these words is clear. The resurrection body will be free from all disease, defect, corruption, destruction, and death. It will be a body full of health, life, and energy, empowered by the Spirit of God. It will be indestructible. As Alan Gomes articulates, “Our resurrection body will be far superior to [our original body].”[15] Our resurrection body is raised in glory; it is raised in incorruption; it is raised in honor; it is raised in power; and it is raised in complete wholeness and renewal.

Age doesn’t matter. Scars or no scars. Seeing goodness only or everything. When it comes to considering what our resurrected body will look like, those things are fun to think about; but they don’t measure up to the promise that if we continue to believe in Christ, trust in Christ, do what Christ would do while living on this earth, then we will be given a resurrected body in heaven that will set us free from pain and suffering and illness of this earth. We will be whole and complete and holy. Just knowing that we are promised a resurrected body in Christ is what we should strive to focus on. “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain”, your resurrected body awaits (1 Corinthians 15:58).

 

Conclusion:

To bring this message to a close, I enjoy playing the game Guess Who?, especially with my niece. Asking questions about what her chosen character looks like—whether or not it has red hair or brown hair, wears glasses, is male or female, is young or old, and so forth. In life we do the same with ourselves, thinking about what we can do to ourselves to make us look the way we want to look. Although Guess Who? is just a game, it certainly reminds us that who we are who is God has made us to be in His image. And no matter what we look like on this earth, if we have accepted Jesus into our heart, then this earthly body is no match for our resurrected body that will “shine like the sun” and be glorified just like Jesus’ resurrected body will be.

Age doesn’t matter. Our scars may or may not be there. Will we only see the goodness of a person while in heaven looking down? I don’t know. But what I do know is that Jesus will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body when we are called home. There is no suffering in heaven nor is there pain, tears, corruption, or death; but only joy, happiness, and newness. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to see what my resurrection body looks like one day! But until then, I’m going to continue playing Guess Who?  with my niece and living as if heaven is in my heart.

Let it be so…

 

Closing Prayer:

Let us Pray… Dear God, we have questions about what we will look like in heaven: questions that make it sound like we are playing Guess Who? But remind us that one day we will find out what our resurrection body looks like, but until then, help us to live our life in the present with heaven in our heart. In your name we pray, Amen.

 

Benediction:

The next time you find yourself playing Guess Who? think about how one day you will receive a resurrected body that shines like the sun, a body that you will continually ask, “Does it have…?”! You will be given a new transformed body that is glorified, holy, and perfect in the eyes of Christ. Cherish that promise and the Lord will bless you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit go forth living as if heaven is in your heart. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

[1] Ethereal: extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.

[2] Carol Zaleski, “Hell,” Britannica Online, updated 16 May 2025 and accessed 28 May 2025: https://www.britannica.com/topic/hell/Greece-and-Rome

[3] Nadir: the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization

[4] Carol Zaleski, “Hell,” Britannica Online, updated 16 May 2025 and accessed 28 May 2025: https://www.britannica.com/topic/hell/Greece-and-Rome

[5] Over the years, Guess Who? has released several special editions. These special editions debut different faces, including Star Wars (released in 2008 and then again in 2014), Batman (released in 2019), Animal Crossing (in 2019), Marvel Comics (in 2022), Super Mario (in 2022), Disney, and The Simpsons.^[5] There are smaller, “travel” editions that have only 20 different faces. In 2008 and 2010, extra and mix and match games were released and a computer game based on the series was released in 1999 by Hasbro Interactive/Infogames.

[6] Alan W. Gomes (edited by Benjamin L. Merkle), 40 Questions About Heaven and Hell, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 2018. pg. 28. The widespread affirmation of heaven and hell in our culture might seem at first glance to be an endorsement of traditional Christian belief, at least when it comes to the afterlife. However, one significant departure is a widespread denial of a future bodily resurrection, a key component of orthodox Christian theology—the “middle way”, the belief that Jesus is God (the Word) who became human; Jesus is both divine and human (James L/ Papandraea, Reading the Early Church Fathers). In other words, as Alan Gomes notes, “While there is a general belief in an afterlife, people tend to conceive of it in spiritualized terms—namely, as the ongoing existence of the soul in a disembodied state.”

[7] Alan W. Gomes (edited by Benjamin L. Merkle), 40 Questions About Heaven and Hell, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 2018. pg. 28. See “People Doubt Physical Resurrection,” Casper Star Tribune, April 6, 2006.

[8] Alan W. Gomes (edited by Benjamin L. Merkle), 40 Questions About Heaven and Hell, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 2018. pg. 28. See “People Doubt Physical Resurrection,” Casper Star Tribune, April 6, 2006.

[9] Alan W. Gomes (edited by Benjamin L. Merkle), 40 Questions About Heaven and Hell, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 2018. pg. 28. See “People Doubt Physical Resurrection,” Casper Star Tribune, April 6, 2006.

[10] Alan W. Gomes (edited by Benjamin L. Merkle), 40 Questions About Heaven and Hell, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 2018. pg. 28. See “Percent of Americans Believing in the Resurrection Drops to 64% from 77% Last Easter,” CNSnews.com, April 1, 2013.

[11] Alan W. Gomes (edited by Benjamin L. Merkle), 40 Questions About Heaven and Hell, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 2018. pg. 128. See J. A. Schep, The Nature of the Resurrection Body, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1964. pg. 132.

[12] John 21:8-10, The other disciples came ashore in the boat. They dragged in the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus told them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

[13] And it will be so real that it may even have scars on it, just like we see, with Thomas, when he see the wounds on Jesus’ hands and side (John 20:24-29).

[14] He is forever God in the flesh, the perfect (and only) Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).

[15] Alan W. Gomes (edited by Benjamin L. Merkle), 40 Questions About Heaven and Hell, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 2018. pg. 186.