We have set forth our belief that the resurrection is in two parts. The first part is the reassembling of our flesh and bones. The second part is the clothing of our flesh and bones with our house from Heaven.

We are going to treat our "house" and our "robe" as though they are the same thing, that is, a covering of our personality. If it proves that the robe and the house are two different things, then no harm has been done. The basic idea is the same—that our conduct today is shaping that with which we will be clothed in the Day of the Lord.

Several times in the Book of Second Corinthians the Apostle Paul speaks of his sufferings. He tells us that his sufferings and frustrations result in the dwelling of the Life of Christ in him, the revealing of Christ's Personality rather than Paul's own personality.

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (II Corinthians 4:10—NIV)

Paul is speaking of life coming to other people because of his living the crucified life.

But something else is taking place. An eternal weight of glory is being formed as a result of Paul's willingness to suffer continual death and resurrection in the Lord Jesus.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (II Corinthians 4:17—NIV)

Notice carefully: Paul's troubles were achieving an eternal weight of glory.

The question is, what is this eternal weight of glory? We would suggest the eternal weight of glory is the house from Heaven that will clothe Paul's revived flesh and bones. If this is the case, then the willingness of Paul to live the life of continual death and resurrection was directly affecting that which will clothe Paul's body in the Day of the Lord. Paul's "light and momentary troubles" were adding weight to Paul's future body, we might say.

As we continue into the next chapter, we see what was on Paul's mind.

Now we know if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. (II Corinthians 5:1—NIV)

Paul's earthly body was being sown to the death of Jesus Christ. However, Paul was not concerned because he was looking forward to receiving his eternal house presently situated in Heaven. Is this not the treasure we lay up in Heaven, of which the Lord Jesus spoke?

Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, (II Corinthians 5:2—NIV)

Notice that Paul was not longing to go to Heaven. He was longing to be clothed with his heavenly dwelling. It is true that we have a mansion in Heaven. But we will not go to live in that mansion. Our mansion will clothe our revived flesh and bones.

To be continued.