What will we look like in Heaven?

Question: "What will we look like in Heaven?"

Answer: In the book of First Corinthians, chapter 15, Paul talks about the resurrection and the resurrected body. In verses 35 and following, he states that the heavenly body will be different from the natural body, with some stark contrasts. Whereas our earthly body is characterized by mortality (being susceptible to death), our resurrected body will be characterized by immortality (not susceptible to death). Likewise while our earthly body is susceptible to decay (corruption), it will become incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:53). Also, where our natural bodies are prone to weakness (ask anyone who has reached 40 years of age or older), our resurrected bodies will be characterized by strength (verse 43).

Another comparison that is made is that now we have a natural body, then we will have a spiritual body. I don’t believe that this means that we will be like ghosts possessing no body at all and floating around unable to interact with things around us. After all, verse 49 states that we will have a body like Jesus’ resurrected body (see also 1 John 3:2). And Jesus, after His resurrection, told them to touch Him and to watch Him eat, demonstrating that He was not merely a spirit (Luke 24:37-43). Rather, I believe that a natural body is that which is fitted for this present life in our present physical universe, whereas the spiritual body we will possess will be that which will best suit us for the eternal existence we were destined for in Christ in our eternal abode. Jesus’ resurrected body was capable of entering locked rooms at will (John 20:19). Our earthly body limits us in ways (and/or dimensions) that our spiritual body will not.

1 Corinthians 15:43 also describes the transformation from “sown in dishonor” to “raised in glory.” Philippians 3:21 says that Jesus “...will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body...” I believe that our decaying bodies are described with the word “dishonor” because of they bear the mark of the results of sin. We can all likely picture in our minds the lungs of one who has ruined his health through smoking, or a brain that is no longer able to form complete thoughts because of drug abuse. In the same way, the decaying physical body is the direct result of man’s sinfulness. Had there been no sin, there would be no decay and death (1 Corinthians 15:56). But God, through Christ’s transforming power, is able to raise up His children in Christ with new glorious bodies, no longer bearing any effects of sin, being completely free from the ravages of sin and possessing the glory of Christ instead.

Now, to answer your question, we are not told exactly what we will look like in the next life, as to what age we will appear to be, nor if we will look thin or fat. But while many believe that we will bear some resemblance to what we look like now (based on the analogy each seed bears its own type of plant, i.e., a corn seed produces a corn plant) (see 1 Corinthians 15:37-38), we do know that in whatever ways our appearance or health has been altered as a result of sin (whether because of overeating or not eating right, hereditary malformations, injuries, aging, etc.), these traits will not be carried over into our appearance or health in the next life. More importantly, the sin nature, inherited from Adam (Romans 5:12) will no longer be with us, for we will be made after the holiness of Christ (1 John 3:2). Because we have this sure hope in Christ in the next life, we are encouraged to purify ourselves now, even as He is pure (1 John 3:3).

Recommended Resource: What the Bible Says about Heaven & Eternity by Ice & Demy.

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