Burpees, Bird Legs, and the Body Eternal

The Hope of Our Bodies

Apostles’ Creed Posts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, now reading 10, 11!

Let’s get fit, baby!

CrossFit

It’s been a year, boys and girls! Last March, I joined a CrossFit gym, and I’m not dead yet. I joined mostly because I had just turned 40 and knew a sedentary lifestyle would kill my body right after it finished off my soul. Also, I didn’t love that my wife could easily beat me in a race. (She still can, btw, but not by a mile.)

So, I joined CrossFit Torment in with three goals, in order of importance:

#1 DON’T get hurt. I have nothing to prove to Adanas. It’s fun until it isn’t, so don’t be stupid—you’re 40.

#2 DON’T skip. I’ll have to miss occasionally, but I can’t skip. This is the hardest part, because the bed monster tries to eat my soul every single morning. I’ve also decided I cannot quit while lying in bed at 5 am. Not today, Satan!

#3 Gain weight. I’ve gotten bigger, but I haven’t gained an ounce. I’ve decided I’m a mutant, and my wife will donate my body to science.

But as much as I might try to keep my body in shape, eventually it will degrade and die. And no amount of training can stop that. This isn’t a disturbing thought to me. As my dad has said, I’ve made friends with death.

Precious Saints

As a pastor in a beautiful and growing church, this passage is often printed in our bulletin: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” – Psalm 116:15

The word precious means highly valued, costly, weighty, and honored. To God, our deaths aren’t considered a tragedy but something of immense significance. Think of the honor and gravity surrounding a presidential funeral. This is how God views the death of his people. In our services, we try to honor these believers as God does.

During those sacred services, the Apostles’ Creed hits a little harder. We confess: “I believe in the resurrection of the body.” That’s when the lump forms in my throat. Because I do believe in the resurrection of the body, and one day, death will be put to death, and all of God’s precious people will be raised to life with brand new, glorified, and eternal bodies.

Photo by Rodolfo

Limitless Money & No Moral Reservation

Let me ask: What kind of car would you drive if you had limitless money and no moral reservations? Would it be the one in your driveway now? What about your house? Would you move to a lake? Let’s get even more practical: your computer. Upgrades are nice. Be honest—no one’s smiling when they open a 10-year-old PC. A beautiful car, a gorgeous home, or a lightning-fast Mac can definitely make life more enjoyable.

Of course, none of those things leads to lasting happiness. But still, a new car is better than an old lemon. Nobody dreams of living in a college dorm room forever. And my hair would fall out if I had to go back to using a 1997 desktop.

If this is true for temporary stuff, consider the eternal. The body that carries us now is far from perfect. My skinny Kyle legs are strong enough at the moment, but that won’t be the case in 30+ years. I have enough older friends who gladly remind me: “Enjoy it while you’ve got it, young man, because the 50s, 60s, and 70s are coming.”

So, what if I told you that a new, perfect, glorious body is coming? One that lasts forever? All those friends would say, “Where do I sign?” God made that promise. His word says he will give us imperishable bodies. That’s our feeling when we confess: “I believe in the resurrection of the body.”

The dead will rise! Photo by Kelly

Resurrection

God cares about our bodies, even my bird legs, and Jesus’ bodily resurrection proves he cares. “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (Luke 24:39). Or Thomas, putting his hands in Jesus’ wounds (John 20:27). Or Paul, rooting the whole gospel in the fact that Jesus “was buried, that he was raised on the third day” (1 Cor. 15).

Jesus’ bodily resurrection is the hope behind our resurrection. “I believe in the resurrection of the body” is not just a doctrinal line; it’s a declaration of everything we hope for. Not only did Jesus rise bodily, but we will, too.

Right now, we’re driving jalopies. This bodily tent is infested and falling apart. And worse, we’re stuck using ’90s internet. But this life is just training wheels. We’re not stuck here forever. God is preparing us for life without the training wheels, where our redeemed spirit and heavenly body are fully united.

Faith and repentance are necessary for that life to come. Would you confess with me?

Prayer of Confession

Lord Jesus, I confess that I spend far more time preserving my body than preparing my soul. I cling to things that can’t last, while you offer me resurrection life that will never fade. Thank you for your death and bodily resurrection. Because of you, I have real hope. Assure me again that you will raise me—body and soul—for all eternity. Amen.

Thanks for praying; God Bless You! I hope you’ll read and pray with us next Saturday at 8:30 a.m.