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When we are young, we often do not think about shedding our earthly body. In reality, we are shedding it in small ways all the time to be able to grow.
Sometimes the process is actually painful. We call it growing pains. Most of us endure the pains in anticipation of a new body.
We can see those who have gotten taller or had other body changes we see as good. We look forward to growing up!
As we get older, we may have growing pains. But we don’t always look forward to that next stage of growth.
We see those who do not seem to be enjoying their mature years. They seem to be enduring many challenges. We might want to skip that part of the growth cycle.
But then there is the stage beyond the mature years. That one prompts a mixture of dread and eager anticipation.
Why is that?
Many of us say we look forward to Heaven … and yet there are those nagging voices that sneak into our thoughts and whisper, “What if you were wrong about there being a Heaven?”
Or even worse, what if you have somehow messed up so badly you will be going to Hell?
There is also the troubling realization that we can’t see or talk with anyone about what happened after that ultimate growth spurt that changed them into the next stage of life.
However, there actually is One, Who demonstrated in a remarkable way we need not fear the transition of this body into the next stage.
God showed through His Body of Jesus just what we can expect. He showed us we can put away any fear and dread and anticipate with Joy what comes next.
Paul said,
Since we, God’s children, are human beings—made of flesh and blood—he became flesh and blood too by being born in human form;
for only as a human being could he die and in dying break the power of the devil who had the power of death.
Only in that way could he deliver those who through fear of death have been living all their lives as slaves to constant dread.
Hebrews 12:13-15
Is that you? Have you been living your life with the constant background noise of fear of death?
Let’s look at a few facts.
Your earth body will be shut down by God at a time He has already set.
Your body is designed for temporary use only on earth.
You cannot go to Heaven in your old earth clothes.
You are with The Lord right now. You always have been. You always will be. You will not go to be with The Lord.
The Lord Who has been with you all this time will escort you to your new Home.
He will clean you up of any earth dirt.
He will dress you in your new body.
He will present you to the company of Heaven without spot and with great Joy.
God demonstrated graphically how dead a person can appear and yet how very much alive they are.
That is the real meaning of the Easter story. The cross has fallen. The shame, agony, pain, separation is finished.
Death has been defeated. So we don’t need to fight that battle any more.
I do not believe we will have to wait for some trumpet call in the future. I believe we will each have our own trumpet call for our earthly launch.
And it will be as Paul envisioned it.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory!
1 Corinthians 15:52-54
