The Substance of the Shadow: The Resurrection

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:42–44; Hebrews 8:5

Introduction: This World Is Not the Ultimate Reality
Hallelujah! May the grace and peace of our risen Lord Jesus Christ fill the hearts of every one of you here today.

Beloved brothers and sisters,
Today is Resurrection Sunday—Easter.
But we do not gather on this holy day merely to recall a historical event that took place two thousand years ago in Jerusalem.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just His victory, but the guarantee of our resurrection as well.
It is a living promise, a foundational hope, and the glorious assurance for all who are in Christ.

So today, we reflect on this:
What kind of hope does the resurrection truly offer us?
And what is the true nature of the world in which we now live?
What does the Word of God teach us about this present life compared to the life to come?

Let us listen to Hebrews 8:5, which says:

“They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things.” (ESV)

This verse contains a profound truth:
Everything we see and experience in this world—even our worship and spiritual devotion—is not the final reality.
They are but shadows—temporary reflections—of the true and eternal things found in the kingdom of God.

In other words, the visible and tangible realities of this life are not the substance.
They are symbols and previews, pointing us to what is truly real: the heavenly sanctuary, the eternal kingdom of God, which is unseen to the human eye but fully real in God’s presence.

Let me illustrate this with a simple image.
A child playing with a toy house may cry if it is lost or broken.
To that child, the toy house feels like everything.
But adults understand that it is not a real house—it is only a model, a representation of something greater.

Likewise, this present life we live on earth is not the ultimate reality.
It is only a model, a shadow of the life that is to come.
Yet so often, we cling to the model as though it were the real thing.
We chase after material comforts, earthly success, and temporal security as if this world were all there is.

But on this Resurrection Sunday, may the Holy Spirit open our eyes to see beyond the shadows.
May we long for the true and eternal kingdom, the substance beyond the shadow, and live our lives in light of the resurrection hope we have in Christ.

Point 1: This World Is Merely a Shadow, but the Resurrection Reveals the Substance
In 1 Corinthians 15:42–44, the apostle Paul describes the nature of the resurrection with these words:

“So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.
It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory.
It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42–44, ESV)

According to this passage, the life we live here on earth is temporary and subject to decay.
We live in bodies that are weak and marked by dishonor because of sin.
But the resurrection will be entirely different.
It will be a transformation: from perishable to imperishable, from dishonor to glory, from weakness to power, from a natural body to a spiritual body.

This glorious transformation is further illustrated in Revelation 21, which gives us a glimpse of the new heaven and the new earth:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,
and God himself will be with them as their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore,
for the former things have passed away.’” (Revelation 21:1–4, ESV)

Here in this present world, we still face pain, sorrow, tears, and ultimately, death.
But in the kingdom of God, which will be revealed fully after the resurrection, those things will be no more.
There will be no more death, no more mourning, no more crying or pain.
God Himself will dwell with His people. He will wipe away every tear, and His presence will fill all in all.

This is what is real. This is the true substance.
What we experience now in this world is only a shadow—temporary and incomplete.
But the resurrection points us to the substance beyond the shadow:
the eternal kingdom of God, where we will be raised in glory to live with Him forever.

Second: The Resurrection Is the Complete Restoration to an Incorruptible, Spiritual Body
Many believers have asked:
“What will our resurrection bodies be like?”
The best answer is found in the example of Jesus’ resurrected body.

Philippians 3:20–21 says:

“But our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body,
by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
(Philippians 3:20–21, ESV)

This “glorious body” of Jesus is the very body we too shall be clothed with at the resurrection.
The resurrected body of Jesus becomes the pattern for what we will receive.

In John 20, we see the risen Jesus appear to His disciples, even though the doors were locked.
Yet in Luke 24, Jesus also ate food and allowed His disciples to touch Him.
This tells us that His resurrected body transcended time and space,
yet remained physical and tangible—not a ghost, but a glorified body.

Now, many also wonder:
“Will our earthly family relationships continue in heaven?”
Jesus answered this in Matthew 22:30:

“For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage,
but are like angels in heaven.”
(Matthew 22:30, ESV)

Yes, in heaven, the institution of marriage will no longer exist,
because there will no longer be a need for procreation.
However, this doesn’t mean that we will live in isolation or without relationship.
Though we will be like the angels in terms of no longer marrying,
we will not be angels.
We will be redeemed humans with glorified bodies,
enjoying perfect communion with God and deep fellowship with one another.

As 1 Corinthians 13 tells us,
in the age to come, we will live in perfect love,
recognizing each other not merely as earthly relatives,
but as brothers and sisters in Christ, united by His love and truth.

1 Corinthians 15:44 explains this further:

“It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”
(1 Corinthians 15:44, ESV)

The spiritual body will not decay, will not grow sick,
will not be bound by time or space.
It will be glorious, powerful, and full of life and light.

Isaiah 65:25 gives us a beautiful prophetic picture of the new creation:

“The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and dust shall be the serpent’s food.
They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord.
(Isaiah 65:25, ESV)

This points to a world where God’s creation is fully restored,
where harmony, not hostility, defines even the animal world.
There will be no more violence, pain, or fear—only peace and the presence of God.

That is the world after the resurrection.
That is the reality we are moving toward—
not a shadow, but the true substance of God’s eternal kingdom.

Third: Memory Is Imprinted in the Soul, and Our Identity Is Preserved in the Resurrection
One of the questions believers often ask is:
“Will we retain our memories after the resurrection?”

We’ve all witnessed elderly loved ones suffering from dementia—
they repeat stories they just told, forgetting conversations from moments earlier.
Why does this happen? Because their brain cells have been damaged or are deteriorating.
According to neuroscience, the more we see, hear, and practice something,
the stronger the synapses—connections between neurons—become,
and that’s how memories are encoded.

This is scientifically accurate.
But the Bible does not reduce human beings to brain chemistry alone.
We are more than a physical brain—we are body and soul.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 reminds us:

“And the dust returns to the earth as it was,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” (ESV)

Our bodies may perish, but our spirits live on—
returning to God as conscious, personal beings.

Hebrews 4:12 declares:

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow,
and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (ESV)

God’s Word penetrates not just our physical body, but our soul and spirit,
discerning even the deepest thoughts and intentions.
This tells us that our identity and memory are written not only in the brain,
but also in the heart and soul.

In Jeremiah 17:1, the Lord says:

“The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron;
with a point of diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart,
and on the horns of their altars.” (ESV)

And in Hebrews 8:10, God promises:

“I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts…” (ESV)

These verses indicate that our memories and convictions are not merely neurological,
but spiritual realities engraved upon the soul.

We see further evidence of this in Luke 16, in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
After death, the rich man remembers his five brothers,
and speaks of them with concern—
he also recognizes Lazarus and recalls how he treated him.
His identity, memory, and emotion all remain intact in the afterlife.

Likewise, in Revelation 6:9–10,
the souls of the martyrs cry out to God under the altar:

“O Sovereign Lord, holy and true,
how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (ESV)

These martyrs remember their suffering and plead for justice.
Their memory persists—because their identity has been preserved.

But here is the glorious promise of the gospel:
Though our memories remain, for the redeemed, God purifies those memories by grace.
The record of sin is erased—not by forgetting, but by forgiving.

Isaiah 65:17 says:

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” (ESV)

And in Hebrews 8:12, God assures us:

“I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more.” (ESV)

God does not forget as humans forget—He chooses not to remember our sins.
But He remembers our faithfulness and rewards us accordingly.

On that day, He will say:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful over a little;
I will set you over much.
Enter into the joy of your master.”
(Matthew 25:21, ESV)

So brothers and sisters,
we will stand before the Lord not as anonymous spirits,
but as remembered persons—redeemed, restored, and recognizable.

All that we do today—our acts of faith, words of love, prayers in secret—
are not lost. They are engraved in the soul,
and will be brought to light in the presence of our risen Lord.

In the resurrection, our bodies will be glorified,
and our souls—complete with memory and identity—will testify to God’s saving grace.

Therefore, may you live this life as one whose identity is being written into eternity,
and may you, when that day comes,
stand before your Savior as one who is remembered and rewarded.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Conclusion: Live with a Heart That Longs for the Real Substance
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
This world we live in is but a shadow.
No matter how dazzling or impressive it may seem, it is not the ultimate reality.
The true substance is found only in the Kingdom of God, which will be revealed fully after the resurrection.

As 1 Corinthians 15:43 tells us:

“It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory.
It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.”

And in Philippians 3:20–21, the apostle Paul declares:

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body,
by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Amen!

So, what must we do now?
We must live each day longing for that true, eternal reality.
Let us prepare for the resurrection with intentional, faithful living.

① Live a Life of Repentance
Repentance is not a one-time event—it is a daily practice of returning to God.
It is living under the cleansing power of Christ’s atonement,
making room for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Through repentance, our hearts become a temple of the Holy Spirit,
no longer a den of robbers, but a house of prayer.

② Live a Life of Worship
Our worship in this world is still a shadow of the heavenly worship,
but through that shadow we look to the substance—to Christ Himself.
True worship doesn’t end with a Sunday service;
it must continue in our daily lives.
As 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says,

“Pray without ceasing.”
That means we live in constant communion with the Lord.
A life of worship is a life of walking in the light of His presence,
responding in praise, prayer, and obedience moment by moment.

③ Live a Life of Love
In heaven, our relationships will be perfected in love.
So let us begin now by truly loving those around us.
Love them from the heart, with sincerity and grace.
Make 1 Corinthians 13 your daily meditation—and let it become your daily character:

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast;
it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,
but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–7, ESV)

This is the kind of love that reflects the heart of Christ
and prepares us to dwell eternally in His presence.

🙏 Closing Prayer
Lord, help us to realize that this world we see and touch is only a shadow,
and awaken in us a longing for the true and eternal Kingdom of God.
Though our bodies grow weak and our memories fade,
we believe that by Your grace, we will be clothed with glorified bodies
and sanctified memories.
Teach us to live repentantly, to worship sincerely, and to love sacrificially—
that we may truly prepare for the resurrection to come.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.