1 Corinthians 15:50-53 

⁵⁰I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. ⁵¹Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— ⁵²in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

Trumpet Signal

In military training, trumpets are used to signal activities for all trainees.

There’s a trumpet warning signal for formation assembly, a trumpet roll call for flag raising, a trumpet signal for breakfast, lunch or dinner, a trumpet signal to end activities or duties, a trumpet signal to bring down the flag, a trumpet signal to return to quarters and go to sleep, a trumpet signal to switch off all the lights, and there’s a trumpet call for military funeral.

A chivalrous and dignified military should pay attention and responsibly abide with those different trumpet signals without grumbling. Let’s reflect on what it says in 2 Timothy 2:1-4 ¹Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ²And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. ³Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

In the military academy, trainees are designated into squads, platoons, companies and battalions. One squad is composed of four to ten soldiers. A platoon is composed of three squads or more. A company is composed of two platoons of more. A battalion is composed of two companies or more.

A squad of first year trainees is trained by second year trainees. Third year trainees oversee a platoon where second year trainees train a squad of first year trainees. The fourth year trainees or graduating trainees oversee the overall training of companies and battalions of trainees. A superintendent of the military academy supervises the overall training activities and practical needs of trainees.

Christians are compared to military trainees and soldiers, and Christ is our supreme commander. He oversees and makes sure that our training is proper and well provided for, practically and spiritually. As his soldiers, we do our best to please Christ. And in his right time, he promotes us to the next level of spirituality.

How can we know that we’ve got promoted to the next level of spirituality? We entrust and train new believers to be responsible soldiers of Christ. We train them to train others also just the way we trained them. A good soldier of Christ pleases him and not entangled in civilian affairs or partisan politics.

Practice of faith in Christ is declared or conveyed in our priorities of life.

1.  Convey

⁵⁰I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 

Respectable versions of the Scripture translate the term “declare” as “tell, say, proclaim or convey” a message. To declare implies emphatic authority.

Emphatic authority with great importance is conveyed when it “declares” that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Furthermore, it is wise to take note of this truth, and it should not be taken for granted. And to convey otherwise may result to remorse.

Flesh and blood pertains to earthly mortal body that will decompose and perish after death. Our mortal body returns to dust when we die physically. Mortal body cannot enter heaven. Earthly body cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

We cannot do anything by human effort and strength to inherit the kingdom of God since our mortal earthly body cannot enter heaven. Why? Together, let us reflect on what it explained clearly in Galatians 5:19-21, ¹⁹The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Partisan Politics

We can practically observe in partisan politics hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy. If we’re more interested in partisan politics and vigorously defend politicians we support or subscribe but less interested in reading the word of God, are we not masters of ourselves?

Preferences of policies may have sparked partisan politics all around the world. Should Christians support and have favorite politicians? Yes?! One vote is only counted as one vote. But we should prioritize the Lord. Even if we agree or not, God established authorities that he deems necessary for any situation.

Did God establish bad mouth politicians as authorities? Did God establish drug addicts as authorities? Did God establish simple minded people as authorities? Did God establish religious people as authorities? Did God establish women as authorities? One vote cannot establish authorities but God can!

Prayerfully, reflect on what it declares in Romans 13:1-2, ¹Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

²Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Warning: This is godly command. Don’t ever use it to rebuke people who do not believe in God. Why? Certainly, only believers of God will reflect on this godly command and consider their attitude toward authorities. So, this command is appropriate rebuke for believers, and believers should be glad to be reminded.

Flesh and blood do not grasp the importance of Godly commands. Only believers who received the Holy Spirit can accept and obey godly commands and avoid the acts of the flesh. Perishable body do not inherit the kingdom of God. The spiritual person who inherits the kingdom of God has the fruit of the Spirit.

Prayerfully reflect on what it declares in Galatians 5:22-25, ²²The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 

Take note: Apostle Paul wrote this biblical truth. Probably, the Holy Spirit produced some fruit in our life but not necessarily on the same level of Apostle Paul. We should commit to serve the Lord all our life and not worried of material things anymore. All Christians could have the fruit of the Holy Spirit eventually.

There is no significant spiritual changes that could happen in our life until we prioritize our spiritual needs over material needs. Keep praying that God will inspire you to prioritize him, to seek his authority over your life and to let godly righteousness prevails in your behavior. Then you praise God for added material things into your life, and your spiritual life will certainly change forever.

2.  Change

⁵¹Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— ⁵²in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 

Christ will return sooner than later. And then we meet Christ in the air when he returns and takes us into heaven. We will be raised imperishable. Our mortal earthly body will be changed. Human flesh and blood cannot comprehend this mystery and we cannot understand or explain in details how it may happen.

If you can imagine it, it is like we were changing clothes. When Christ returns, we exit from our mortal earthly body; and simultaneously, God gives us imperishable immortal body to enter heaven. Flesh and blood cannot enter heaven, so our earthly body will decompose and return to dust on the ground.

How do you personally interpret what God declared in Genesis 3:19?

¹⁹By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

As much as we may want to be more religious and spiritual, the call of the flesh to prioritize material things seems more convincing and attractive, why?

God declared it, and it certainly happens to physical bodies that originated from the dust of the earth. Naturally, we sweat for material things or food but not for spiritual food. To sweat implies instinctive passion which prioritizes its natural inclination. Earthly body prioritizes earthly attractions and needs. In comparison, we prioritize spiritual attractions and needs after we are born in the Spirit.

Karaoke

Someone observed that Filipinos are really very good Karaoke singers.

Do you agree? Maybe, you have also tried singing in Karaoke. If you have not tried yet, you can easily find videos of songs with lyrics online. Anyway, Karaoke is more attractive because after you sing one song, you get a score of how you have performed or sang. And you will be getting better, if you are not yet better.

Not everyone who can sing have passion in singing. Actually, there’re good Karaoke singers who have exceptionally awesome voices, but if you ask them, they hesitate to join a Worship Team, why? Singing praises for God is ministry calling, and it should not be forced to anyone, even if they have great voices.

Instead, pray for them that they may clearly hear the voice of God when he calls them so that they join a worship team ministry eventually. Likewise, we pray for punctuality. We don’t force anyone to be punctual for worship services. Surely, they also want to be punctual. Most probably, they have spiritual struggles. And, enthusiastic believers won’t intentionally avoid some parts of worship services.

How do you personally interpret what it says in 1 Corinthians 2:14?

¹⁴The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 

When controlled by flesh and blood earthly nature, they cannot discern it when God is speaking to them. They resist the word of God, instead of reflecting on the message and change whatever is needed to be changed. If we respond obediently to godly instructions, it practically shows that we are preparing for eternity. When Christ returns, will you be clothed with imperishable immortality?

3.  Clothe

⁵³For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

When Christ returns, he transforms us from mortal into immortal. It will be like changing clothes from perishable to imperishable. Flesh and blood earthly body feels the pain when it is cut or pinched. Do you suppose that we will also feel pain in heaven? In heaven, there’s no more pain, no crying, no mourning. There will always be rejoicing peace with the Lord forever in his heaven.

Those who cannot enter heaven will suffer pain of torture in hell without end for all eternity. When we were still spiritually dead, we cannot imagine the eternal agony that awaits us in hell. But after we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God sent his Holy Spirit into our heart, and we were spiritually born. Now, we can imagine how great and wonderful heaven is and we can also imagine the terrible agony of torture that awaits those who rejected Christ.

Reflect on what it declares about us in Ephesians 2:3, ³All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Winter

Winter is almost over, hopefully snow will come again next year. But now, imagine this situation: You were very nice, and you shovel the snow next to your neighbor. Your neighbor did not know that it was you who shovel snow and clear their path regularly. It doesn’t matter. You did it anyway because you sense it in your heart the joy of doing something good without being noticed.

Do you think that it’s just your natural goodness to do things favorable to others without being noticed? Or do you credit such goodness as fruit of the Holy Spirit in you? When the Holy Spirit is active in our life, our immediate reaction is to praise and thank to Lord. We give credit to the Lord and not to ourselves. The natural instinct is to credit the self, but the Holy Spirit inspires us to thank God.

Together, let us reflect on the prayer of King David in Psalm 51:10-12.

¹⁰Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. ¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

It is God who inspires us to realize our shortcomings, then we ask him to forgive us. Sin alienates us from God, and that is sad reality. But when the Holy Spirit is active in our life, he inspires us to abide in him, and we sense joy of his salvation. Joy from Holy Spirit of the Lord sustains us to be punctual, and with or without nobody watching us, we continue to participate in his ministry.

Seriously, reflect on what happened to the Israelites in Nehemiah 8:9-10,

⁹Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the

Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. ¹⁰Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Ezra the priest read the Book of the Law and when they heard the word of God, the Israelites wept in repentance because their hearts were broken.

Nehemiah declared that the joy of the Lord is their strength to keep on.

There are seemingly important activities that may steal our joy in the Lord. Worldly deceptive logics has deceived many church attendees. They are busy doing something legit just to avoid responsibilities they are supposed to do. They choose to do what is convenient to them just to avoid their mission purposes.

When Christ returns and the last trumpet sounds, many will be surprised that their supposedly good deeds are actually wasted effort for avoiding their call.

Be prayerful and don’t insist on doing what you presume as right or legit.

Instead, prayerfully ask God to inspire you and follow his calling for you. If God called you to fulltime ministry, pray that he will sustain you with peaceful joy. Will you be found faithful to his calling for you when the last trumpet call is sounded?

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