Grace? What's That?: Devotions from Time of GraceEsimerkki

Will we know one another again in heaven?

Of course you will. Your personality, skills, abilities, and relationships were all designed by God to last beyond the grave. You may look a little different from the way you appeared in your casket--Scripture promises that you will undergo complete physical restoration--and so you might have to wear a name tag at first.

The Bible calls Jesus the first installment of the resurrection from the dead, and so a peek at the resurrection stories is instructive. The risen Christ looked like himself, had his memory, and rose with a fully functioning human body. He ate fish with his disciples and touched them. He used his lips and tongue to communicate with them in human speech.

Or consider Elijah, given the extraordinary gift of avoiding death altogether. “Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus” (Matthew 17:1-3).

Like Moses and Elijah, we will be recognizable as ourselves and enjoy an eternity of being with our families, our friends, and with the Lord. And have plenty of time to make a lot of new friends.