The Change We Need

One of the major presidential candidates is noted for his constant use of certain phrases. He orated about “the change we need” as he travelled about the United States seeking votes in the Democratic primaries and caucuses. He carried the same message to Europe and, in Berlin, told Germans “… this is our moment. This is our time.” In other speeches, he said “We are the change we need.”

The Feast of Trumpets is all about “the change we need.” One of those changes is the change in leadership that will occur when Jesus Christ comes as King of kings and Lord of lords and takes over ownership of the kingdoms of this world (Revelation 11:15). Another change is spoken of by the apostle Paul.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52

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

When the seventh angel sounds the seventh trumpet, not only will Christ become the new King over all the kingdoms of the world, but we will be changed. This, indeed, will be our moment; it will be our time.

No one will argue against the fundamental need for change in man. Philosophers and political leaders alike have cried out for centuries that there needs to be a change in the human heart and in human behaviors. We could spend hours discussing the abominable acts man has done since the Garden of Eden. In the end, we would conclude that a change is needed. God’s plan of salvation revealed in the holy days is all about how that change will occur in human beings. And on this day in the future (Feast of Trumpets), those who have battled and struggled against human nature will realize a final change. But what will this change we need be like?

I Corinthians 15:50

⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

We cannot inherit, we cannot be in, the kingdom of God as human beings. We have to be changed. In verses 42-44, Paul gives more details about what that change will be like.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44

⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

This passage weaves together four comparisons to give us an idea about the change that is coming – the real change we need. First, Paul shows the state of our natural body – our flesh and blood existence. Then, in contrast, he shows what will happen as a result of the resurrection.

The Natural Body

We all know what the natural body is like. We live with it every day. But in case we have forgotten, here is what Paul meant when he used the term “natural body”: “the natural, physical [man]… subject to corrupt desires and influences” (Vines). Is any one of us subject to lusts and cravings and corrupt desires? Are we prone to giving in to bad influences? Numerous scriptures describe the weakness inherent in the human flesh. Paul, here, lists three areas – corruption, dishonor, and weakness.

The word “corruption” indicates that the natural body is just temporary; it is short-lived. It is brought into this condition because of giving in to the natural desires and lusts. When our lives are centered on the things of the flesh, the things that are carnal (Romans 8:5-9), we become corrupt and eventually die. (Romans 6:23).

“Dishonor” shows that as a result of living a corrupt way of life, humans are in a state of shame and disgrace. Giving in to vile passions is disgraceful and shameful and produces contempt and dishonor for the person committing the resulting acts. Interestingly, those who commit some of the most atrocious crimes are filled with guilt. Their shame and disgrace cause them to hate themselves.

“Weakness” indicates “lacking strength, diseased,… sickness, feeble, weak” (Vine’s). Thayer’s Lexicon says that it refers to the body’s inherent “weakness and frailty.” It also points to our lack of capacity to understand various concepts or to accomplish great things. Human weakness is further shown when we fail to restrain our wrong desires.

All of that may seem to be academic – to be just words. If you want to understand the natural body better, take out a sheet of paper – or multiple sheets, if need be - and list all of your aches and pains and diseases. Write down all of your sins and shortcomings. Make a little note about the things you are ashamed of doing. Make sure to record all the cravings and hungers you have. Jot down all the things you just do not do well. The list may include: can’t remember, don’t listen, and as the old songs says, “don’t know much about history, don’t know much about Biology, don’t know much about science book, don’t know much about the French I took.” When you have done that, you have an inkling of what the natural body Paul wrote about is like. To understand the spiritual body, take out a match and burn that sheet of paper up. The spiritual body is nothing like the natural body.

The Spiritual Body

When we receive the change we need, all of the problems with the human flesh will be changed. The corruption, dishonor and weakness will be gone. What will take its place? What will this spiritual body be like?

John wrote “it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). We will be like Christ. Revelation 1:13-16 gives a description of the coming King. The spiritual body is spirit; it is greater than our natural body and is not subject to the physical. It has its origin from God. In John 3:5, Christ said we have to be born of spirit to enter the Kingdom of God. In verse 6, He said “that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Paul wrote in I Corinthians 15, that the spiritual body will be raised in incorruption, glory, and power.

“Incorruption” shows we will have an “unending existence” (Strong’s). We will be given the gift of eternal life. We will be “exempt from decay” (Thayer’s). We will no longer be subject to carnal desires and lusts and the suffering that results.

“Glory” indicates that we will have “an appearance [that commands] respect” and one that has “brightness and splendor” (Vine’s). We will have honor because we have the divine nature – the very character and righteousness of God. We will radiate perfection as the pinnacle of God’s spiritual creation.

“Power” shows that the spiritual body has “strength [and] ability” and that this power will be inherent – it will reside in us because of our new nature (Thayer’s). This word is used of the power to perform miracles and heal (Thayer’s). We will have “moral power and excellence.” We will have perfect “love, joy, peace… kindness… and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). With this power, we will be able to accomplish what we were unable to accomplish in the flesh. Instead of can’t, it will be can do. The divine nature will give us power and strength that no protein shake ever could. Our abilities will awe those who once taught us.

To understand your new spirit body, take out another sheet of paper and write down all the good things you would like to accomplish. List the things you would like to understand and know. Write in bold print the character traits you wish you had. After writing down all of those needed changes, you will have a faint shadow of what you will become when you take on the new spiritual body. Keep that as a reminder of what you will become when Jesus Christ returns.When we receive the change we need, “there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying,… [and] no more pain” (Revelation 21:4).

Worldwide Benefits

Because of our receiving the change we need the whole world will benefit.

Romans 8:19-23

19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; ²¹ because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. ²³ Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Paul writes that we (the future spirit-born sons of God) are the change we (the inhabitants of the earth, indeed the entire physical creation) need. When the sons of God are revealed, tremendous changes will begin to take place on this earth.

The Feast of Trumpets foreshadows that future day when “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (I Corinthians 15:51-52). That will be the change we need. That will be our moment. That will be our time. When that change happens, we can say, “Yes we can!”