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An Atom of Time

Atoms are the building blocks of life, or so I was taught in elementary school. Technically an atom is the smallest unit of matter that can retain the chemical properties of an element. Atoms are pretty much the smallest thing we can see or measure.

The word atom means indivisible because it was originally used to describe something that was already reduced down as small as it could be. It is a Greek word, and we see it in the New Testament.

Speaking of the resurrection of believers, Paul wrote, "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)."

The word translated as moment is atomos in Greek. This is the only time the word is found in Scripture, but it is important. Paul is telling the church that their perishable, mortal, and physical bodies will be exchanged for ones that imperishable, immortal, and spiritual. Our bodies are weak; they will be raised up powerful. This is an incredible thought--our bodies without limitations, and incapable of committing sin. 

Paul says it will happen in a moment, in an atom of time. It will occur all at once, faster than you can blink. This transformation will make the speed of sound look like the speed of a sloth.  

Many of us get excited at the thought of a better body, one that will need no glasses, hearing aids, or pillboxes. But these bodies will be so much better than that. All we know are physical bodies, but Paul said the new bodies will be spiritual.

Adam and Eve had perfect physical bodies, but they still committed sin in them. Our next bodies will be uncorrupted and incorruptible. We will not have the capacity to sin, so we will truly live happily ever after. 

It will happen quickly, in an atom of time, but the results will last forever. 

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