This is my continuing conversation with God about transitioning from this life to the next. (See prior posts for the beginning of our discussion.)
I was excited! I told God, "That new body sounds awesome. So do I just leave this one here and get the new one? How does this exchange work?"
I have always been God's why child. It is not enough for me to know what something is. I want to know how it works, step by step.
God knows me. He knows what's coming. I take comfort in knowing He is not offended by my questions.
But like any parent, He knows my understanding is limited now. He only tells me what I need to know and what I can digest now.
He said, "It's not an exchange of bodies. It's a change in your body. You will not be replaced. You will be transformed. "
"Your present body works the same way. Some parts are shed when they are no longer needed. Other parts are changed. Some parts are added."
"I change you so you are ready to live the next part of your life. When you were ready, the little baby changed into the child and then the teenager and then the adult. You were always you, but you changed."
"When those changes started, you may not have even noticed. I am gentle with you. But My creation never stops. You go from Glory to Glory."
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of The Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by The Spirit of The Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Details. I wanted details. "So how long will I have to wait for this transformation after I die?"
He frowned. "I don't use words like death. I conquered death, so that is a foreign expression to Me. Do you mean how long does it take to change from your earthly form to your heavenly form?"
"Yes."
"Everyone's experience in getting ready to launch from the old body is different. What you call dying is really like the labor pains of the birth you and your mother experienced when you came to earth."
"For some it takes a longer time of struggle to be born from earth life to heavenly life. For some, it is a quick delivery."
"But for all, the change happens when they fully surrender to Me and trust Me."
"Some people call it My Holy Kiss. I breathe life into you when you are born and when you go to the next level, you give it back to Me, as I give you more."
"When launch happens, is it quick?"
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
"In a flash … in the twinkling of an eye .. you will have a growth spurt."
"But wait, I thought that was going to be at the end of time. Paul says 'at the last trumpet.'"
"It's actually the first trumpet you will hear in Heaven. And it does not sound anything like Taps. It sounds like the announcement of royalty."
"And it will be. I will be pleased to present you to the company of saints."
To Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His Glorious Presence without fault and with great joy— to The only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Jude 1:24-25
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