Resurrection life will swallow up mortality, as portrayed by the covering of the acacia wood of the Ark of the Covenant with gold (Exodus 25:10,11).

Acacia wood, symbolizing mortality, was always present in the Ark, but the wood was never seen because it was completely covered with gold, which typifies Divinity. Our original body will be our dwelling place throughout the ages to come. But it will never be seen as it is now because it will be "swallowed up of life."

Jesus still has the same body. He still has the nail prints in His hands, we believe. But He is in a greatly glorified state. After we stand in the Presence of God Almighty for a few billion years, steadfastly beholding His Face, we shall be so glorified that every atom of our being will be changed into the Divine Nature. However, our original form will be there, just as the outline of the leaf can be traced in the rock after eons have passed.

We are not groaning that we might leave our body and go to Paradise, although that is a blessed prospect. Rather, we are longing for and pressing toward the putting on of the "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," our "house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

Our hearts are overcome with joy as we consider the greatness of the inheritance that is to be ours at the return of the Lord. We yet shall possess the righteousness and peace for which we are fighting. We are laboring to enter the rest of God. God's rest will be ours if we do not give up but continue on as one faithful to Him whose name is "Faithful" (Revelation 19:11).

God is preparing us for the putting on of the house from Heaven.

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest [pledge] of the Spirit. (II Corinthians 5:5)

God has created us for the purpose of conforming us to the image of His Son, Christ, that He may be the firstborn among many brothers. We must be changed into His image in our spirit, in our soul, and in our body.

It is God's great joy and good pleasure that we inherit His fullness. No greater joy can be brought to the heart of God than that which comes from beholding His sons fight their way by faith into the fullness of all He has prepared for them.

Israel displeased God by not maintaining the courageous faith required for the full possession of the land of promise. Let us not be like faithless Israel. Let us rather go on until death itself, the last enemy of our Lord Jesus Christ, has been crushed under our feet by the God of peace (Romans 16:20).

We have the Holy Spirit as an "earnest," a guarantee, a pledge, a first installment on the greater glory that is yet to come. The greater glory will include, among other blessings, the clothing of our body with a house fashioned from eternal life. Let us never lose sight of that goal, for it is the fullness of salvation. The pursuit of the fullness of God is His will for us now. We need faith and patience if we are to lay hold on our entire inheritance in Christ.

To be continued.