Healing Rays of Righteousness

The death of someone we have loved awakens the question, “After death, what happens to the person I knew and loved?” And as our own physical body ages with increasing weaknesses and disabilities, the question may taunt our Christian faith with fearful uncertainties.

In his letter to the Corinthian Christians, the apostle Paul describes the pilgrimage that we call life with its changes occurring throughout life as metamorphosis. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the spirit.” (2 Cor. 3:18). The statement translated “are being transformed” is literally a form of the word “metamorphosis” in the Greek language.

To watch the mysterious unfolding of life as an ugly, clumsy, wiggly, caterpillar becomes a beautiful, graceful butterfly is fascinating. We call this life change “metamorphosis,” which is transformation of one type of life into another. And it is one of nature’s prime exhibits of the life change we humans will experience at our moment of death. Our ultimate metamorphosis occurs the moment we meet Christ. Like the freed monarch butterfly, our spirits will be released into the most beautiful life of God’s kingdom.

Then in chapter 5, Paul describes death as moving from an earthly tent to an eternal house. Paul made and sold tents, so he knew what he was talking about. A tent is a fragile, temporary shelter, whereas a home is much more stable and permanent. And so, when the Apostle Paul reflected upon his life’s struggles and the prospect of death, his mind focused on the familiar tent. And so, about death, Paul says, “For we know that 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.” (2 Cor. 5:1). Thus, for Paul, death is about leaving the tent and going home.

I find it consoling to discover that all of Paul’s writings about death are permeated with the idea that for the Christian, death is not the end, but the key to a new, changed life of dwelling with God. He writes, “For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.” (2 Cor. 5:4).

We tend to think that in death, life is swallowed up by deterioration and decay, but Paul states the opposite, “what is mortal” (limited & dying) is “swallowed up by life” (grand & eternal).

Neither did Paul believe that death was the place of extinction, or that in death we become some disembodied spirit floating around in eternity. Rather, he believed that in death God gives us a new body and that we will be able to love and serve God better than we can now.

And so, Paul assures us that the difference which death makes is not between being and not-being, but rather, it is the difference between living in a tent or living in a house. It is the difference between being away from home or being at home. Most importantly, it is the difference between being separated from the God or dwelling with God in his kingdom.

Earlier in his first letter to the Corinthian Christians, Paul is remembering Isaiah’s prophetic vison of a new heaven and new earth (Isaiah 65:17-25) and encourages his readers with this summary regarding what awaits beyond our moment of death. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9).

My above thoughts barely uncover the magnificent, reassuring, comforting words of Jesus himself as he prepared his disciples for his own death and home-going. Read them often!

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. (John 14:1-4).

Think of breathing new air, and finding it celestial air;

Of feeling invigorated, and finding it immortality;

Of passing from storm and tempest into perfect calm;

O awakening and knowing I am HOME!        

{Author unknown)

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness”– www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 10/30/25