I believe that if people knew what their future looked like, they would live their lives much differently here on earth.
(Note: To read Part 2, go to "Search by Author/Speaker" on the home page and search for articles by Mac Hammond. Click on the link to Part 2.)

Did you know that you have a great cloud of witnesses cheering you on as you go about your life on earth? Hebrews 12:1 says:

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us… (KJV)

When Christians die, their spirits go on to be with the Lord, and they become part of this great cloud of witnesses. Part of the definition for the word “witnesses” implies agreement and exhortation. These witnesses are not only very much aware of the unfolding plan of God on the earth, they know what’s happening in your life and are cheering you on from the grandstand of heaven, adding the power of their agreement to the course you’re running in this life. 

One thing these witnesses cannot do yet is step into their eternal calling of ruling and reigning with the Lord because that requires a physical body. In order to fulfill this calling across the vastness of a universal creation that is temporal and physical, we have to have a physical body.

Angels can’t do what we do as human beings because they don’t have physical bodies. They can only legally function in this world as ministers to the heirs of salvation, which is their calling. The same is true with demons; they can’t do things in this earth without first possessing a biological life form through which to find expression. That’s the way God created this universe.

All Christians—both those alive and those who have died—will receive a glorified, physical body at the rapture of the Church so they will then be enabled to fulfill their eternal calling. First Corinthians 15:22-23 says:

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. (KJV)

Christ experienced a physical resurrection of His body. He didn’t enter into some kind of spiritual immortality; He was physically raised from the dead and it says that He was the firstfruits of many to follow. The resurrection of our physical bodies will occur when the Lord returns at the end of the church age and the Church is raptured.

What happens to the people who have died and their bodies are rotting in a grave or even cremated? Their earthly bodies will be resurrected to life and rejoined to their spirits who are with the Lord; those who are alive will experience the resurrection of their bodies after that.

Start Thinking About It!
So why is this important to know?

Well, I believe that if people knew what their future looked like, they would live their lives much differently here on earth. A future you are certain about is the only way your quality of life now is going to be what it should be.

Hebrews 11:12-15 says:

Therefore sprang there even of one [talking about Abraham], and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith [a reference to the men and women of faith talked about earlier in this chapter], not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
(Heb. 11:12-15 KJV)

You and I need to become more mindful of the heavenly, eternal truths that are going to define our future than we are mindful of the earthly experiences that often occupy much of our thinking. Being heavenly minded makes a huge difference in the way you see everything in life. Of course, you can’t be mindful of something you know virtually nothing about. That’s why I’m sharing with you some basic truths about eternity.

What Will Your Body Look Like?
What else do we know about the resurrection of our bodies and the eternal ages to come? We can read more about it in 1 Corinthians 15:35-38.

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. (KJV)

Since I went into the ministry, I’ve had questions asked me about the rapture. “I’m a short guy now; I want to be 6’ 5” in the rapture.” “I have brown eyes, but I want blue in the rapture.” Paul shows us two things in this passage. First, your glorified body will be better than what you currently have. Second, he states, “to every seed his own body.” Your body is a seed of what is to come. If your body—“the seed”—has black hair and blue eyes, when it’s raised, it’s going to have the same thing. If you have a hook nose and a little bit of a hawkish profile, you’ll have that in the resurrection.

I heard somebody preach that we’re all going to be neutered in the rapture since there will be no marriage or giving in marriage in heaven, and thus, no need for sex for purposes of procreation. That’s not right though. If you’re “sown” a man, you’re going to be raised a man. If you’re “sown” a woman, you’re going to be raised a woman.

The things that get changed in the rapture are the corruptive effects of sin: disobedience, aging, sickness, and infirmity. In your glorified body, you’ll look in a mirror and say, “Whoa, do I ever look good!” No bald spots. No potbellies. No blemishes. You’re going to look good, but you’re going to be you.

The point of all this is that heaven is going to be so good, it’s just going to blow your socks off. You’re not going to be disappointed about a thing. You can’t even imagine the joy in a place without tears or sorrow. You’re going to be so excited about everything that unfolds.

The truth of it is that every God-given desire of yours will be fulfilled. If the promise wasn’t received in this earth and your heart’s desire was to be healed, then come heaven, you’ll experience healing. If you have a desire to experience an abundance that never seemed to manifest on this earth, then, man, your mansion and the street in front of your house paved with gold is going to be more than satisfying.

These are truths you need to know about the resurrection as you enter the eternal ages to come. Much is a mystery that the Bible doesn’t address, but we can rejoice in the certainty that heaven will more than satisfy every yearning of the human heart.