The expression "what is mortal may be swallowed up by life" reminds us of the similar expression in the fifteenth chapter of First Corinthians. We are looking forward to our flesh and bones being swallowed up by eternal, indestructible resurrection life. Perhaps this is the crown of life mentioned in the second chapter of the Book of Revelation, the reward for remaining patiently in the prison in which God permits us to be placed.

Again let us state the all-important concept: salvation does not involve a change of where we are but of what we are. It is the hope of the carnal nature, the natural man, that some day he will be brought to a better place, a place where there are no troubles. This is why going to Heaven has become the goal of the Christians and why the hope of an any-moment rapture is so appealing. "Never mind the troubles of the world! We are going home!" There could not be a message more appealing to the adamic nature.

But what God has in mind is infinitely better than a change of environment. It is a fundamental change in what we are, not where we are. You see, if we are not changed, and those around us are not changed, then no matter where we go there will be the same trouble and pain. There is no use putting Adam and Eve back into Paradise if they still are going to disobey God. They first must be changed.

So it is with the plan of salvation. God is saving us. This means He is delivering us totally from Satan, the spirit of the world, the lusts of our flesh, and our self-will. This is what it means to be saved. Where we go after we are delivered from sin and self-will we have all eternity to decide.

The purpose of God's grace in Christ is not to bring us into Paradise the way we are, it is to change what we are so we can maintain Paradise once it is regained.

Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (II Corinthians 5:5—NIV)

"God who has made us for this very purpose," that is, for the purpose of clothing us with immortality.

God has predestined each of His sons to a specific destiny in Christ, including a specific house from Heaven to clothe his revived frame. Our destiny is a mark set before us. Whether we attain our destiny depends on the consecration and diligence we bring to its pursuit. It is entirely possible to have one's talent taken and given to another. It is entirely possible to lose one's crown of life.

God has made us for the very purpose of being clothed with a marvelous mansion of glory. The Holy Spirit we now have is a deposit on the house of eternal life that is to be ours in the Day of the Lord.

To be continued.