TRANSFORMED THROUGH DEATH
“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:” I Corinthians 15:36, 37
The primary theme of I Corinthians 15 is the resurrection. Our text tells us that something must die before it can be resurrected or quickened: “that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die.” When a seed is sown, it is hoped that a new plant will emerge and fruit will be produced. With faith, the seed is committed to the ground. However, before the plant can appear, a change has to take place in that seed. The seed, in essence, must die before the plant can be formed.
The same is true in a spiritual life. A transformation has to take place in our bodies before they are resurrected to be eternally with God in Heaven. Before our bodies are quickened, they must also die. When we die, our spirit goes immediately to be with the Lord. At the return of Christ, our bodies will be raised incorruptible. The moment we die physically, we are immediately transported to our eternal home.
In reality, we never die. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (John 11:25). The same principle of death applies to our daily walk. In order for us to live the life that God has planned for us, we must first die to self. We will only live in the resurrected power of Jesus if we are willing to let death work in us.
Another wonderful promise is also contained in our scripture. The seed that is sown is not the same in appearance and essence as the body that will appear. “And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be.” When one plants an apple seed, an entire tree with many apples will one day grow. When it comes time for each of us to die and our body is placed in the grave, it is not the same body that will one day be resurrected. The body that will be quickened will be a glorified body. It will not contain the sinful desires of our present body. It will be a body free from disease and pain, and fitted for Heaven.
In our earthly journey, this is also true. When we are willing to die to self and let the Holy Spirit control us, the life that we will live will not be the same as the life we live in the energy of the flesh.