当我们活着时，我们的灵魂和身体是联合的。我们死后，我们的灵魂便离开身体，我们那没有生命的身体会归回尘土。难道这就是我们身体的最终归宿吗？
有些宗教乐于接受死亡就是从身体的“牢笼”中被释放出来的理念。然而，根据圣经所说的，上帝造我们是有灵魂和身体的；此外，祂造我们的身体是奇妙的（诗篇 139:14）。所以，当死亡把灵魂和身体分开，我们已经不再是上帝造我们时的样子。我们在使徒信经中说：“我信身体复活”，就是这个原因。
这怎么可能呢？我们的身体是容易受伤和脆弱的，它会衰败，至终耗尽。然而，上帝将我们造成一个完整的存在，我们的身体仍然是这个存在不可或缺的部份。如果没有我们的身体，我们就不再是完全意义的人了。
对我们每一个相信基督的人来说，当我们离世时，我们的灵魂将会立刻与耶稣同在一起，我们因此而感到极大的安慰。当耶稣再来时，我们的身体和灵魂便会再次联合在一起，那时我们便会再次成为完全的人了。
不过，到了那天，我们的身体将不再是脆弱和必朽坏的了。死亡将会被征服，而我们也会有“荣耀”的身体，就像耶稣在祂复活时的身体一样。
主耶稣，我们为我们受造奇妙可畏的身体来感谢你。在我们等待与你同享丰盛的复活生命的日子，求你帮助我们小心照顾和爱护我们的身体。阿们。
哥林多前书 15:50-54
50弟兄们，我告诉你们说，血肉之体不能承受神的国，必朽坏的不能承受不朽坏的。
51我如今把一件奥秘的事告诉你们：我们不是都要睡觉，乃是都要改变，
52就在一霎时，眨眼之间，号筒末次吹响的时候。因号筒要响，死人要复活成为不朽坏的，我们也要改变。
53这必朽坏的总要变成 不朽坏的，这必死的总要变成不死的。
54这必朽坏的既变成不朽坏的，这必死的既变成不死的，那时经上所记“死被得胜吞灭”的话就应验了。
“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” - 1 Corinthians 15:54
While we are alive, our spirits are united with our bodies. When we die, our spirits depart, and our lifeless bodies return to the earth. Is that the final destiny for our bodies?
Some religions welcome death as a release from the “prison” of the body. But, according to the Bible, God made us to have both souls and bodies; moreover, he made our bodies good (Psalm 139:14). So when the two are separated by death, we cease to be as God made us. For that reason, we say, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in the resurrection of the body.”
How can that be? Our bodies are vulnerable and frail. They break down and eventually just give out. Yet our bodies remain integral to who we are as God has made us. Without our bodies, we are no longer fully ourselves.
For all of us who believe in Christ, we can take great comfort that when we die, our souls will immediately be with Jesus. And when Jesus returns, our bodies and souls will be reunited. Then we will again be fully ourselves.
On that day, though, our bodies will no longer be frail and mortal. Death will be conquered, and we will have “glorified” bodies, just like Jesus’ body at his resurrection.
Lord Jesus, thank you for our bodies, fearfully and wonderfully made. Help us to treat them with care and respect while we wait to share with you the fullness of resurrection life. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
