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The Best Is Yet To Come

1 Corinthians 15:45-49
So it is written: 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. (NIVUK)

Naturally we get used to life as it is. Without clear teaching and Holy Spirit inspired faith, we assume that there will be no change, except further spoiling or decay. It is Satan's lie. The glorious truth is that the first man (Adam) and the second Man (Christ) are radically different.
 
Adam, who was a part of God's creation, sinned; and death entered the world. But Christ took responsibility for the sin of every human being and died to pay its punishment. Adam was created from dust, but Christ came down from heaven - in order to lift repentant sinners into the presence of God.
 
All those who reject Christ remain shackled to the earth, like prisoners on a sinking ship. They share the future of the corrupt world and cannot see above its horizon. But those who welcome Christ and receive His new life are like Him in seeing the world with all its weariness as temporary; they look forward to heaven and receiving a resurrection body which can never change or decay.
 
The best is yet to come! That is why believers have hope and joy; that is why our temporary difficulties are far outweighed by the prospect of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). And our hope is not just a dream or fantasy. We know it is true because Jesus has risen from the dead and has promised that we shall share in His glory (John 17:22). So when we are burdened by the weariness which belongs to the 'earthly man', remember that we now belong to the 'heavenly Man'. One day the best will be revealed … and for that we wait with joy.

Prayer 
Heavenly Father. Thank You that Jesus Christ came from heaven to bring all those who trust Him back home to His heaven, in glory. Forgive me when I have allowed the shackles of earth to hold me too closely to this world with its sin and pain. Please help me to be confident in the 'heavenly Man' and keep looking to Him, expecting His presence, His guidance and His strength now, and His glory when He returns. In His Name. Amen.
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© Dr Paul Adams