It’s hard to understand.

Dying seems like such a permanent thing here on earth.

Because I have accepted salvation through Jesus, my death on earth is when my body stops functioning, but my soul – the core of who I am – does not die.  I have already started my eternal life – this first part is on earth, the second part will be my forever home with my Father.

As I reach the fall season of my life, my body reminds me daily that it has a specific shelf life and there will be an end.  My forever home is waiting for me.

My husband and I built a new home last year in a new community so a lot of the discussions with our new neighbors are about our houses.  And I’m amazed at how many people call these man-made shelters their ‘forever home’.  Not me – my forever home is waiting for me when this part of my journey ends.

The prophet Elijah is one of two people in the Bible whose bodies didn’t die.  A chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and “Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind”.

I would love to go to heaven that way – now you see me, now you don’t!  But I believe my journey home is going to be a lot less dramatic.  When I breathe my last breath, Jesus will be holding my hand and he will walk my soul into heaven with him, leaving my body behind.

No chariots of fire.

No whirlwinds.

Just joy.

I will finally be in my forever home.

Thank you for preparing a place for me, Abba Father.