The Rebirth Portal
The Lord has called me into his presence and looks at me kindly. It seems like I have only been in heaven for a split second, but truthfully, it has been many years in Earth's time. He speaks softly to me and says, “It’s time, Paul. It’s time to greet our newest family member.” I understand and immediately leave to go over to the Rebirth Portal. I can see other heavenly beings join me as the Lord has spoken to them.
We walk over to an arena packed with seats situated around an opening that we know is the portal for the rebirth of souls from Earth. I take my place alongside her immediate family. We talk excitedly. A crowd now awaits the arrival of this special person, and there is an electrifying air of anticipation. The soul coming was influential in helping many during her life, and, as a result, every chair was occupied with standing room only.
We are allowed to peer down on earth and see into an assisted living facility where an elderly woman in her early nineties is gasping for air. She is close to death. Her family surrounds her bed as needles poke her skin, connected to wires attached to monitors that are beeping methodically. Tubes up her nose give her oxygen as she strains to breathe. She is struggling to stay alive even though she knows it’s her time to die.
She is the last surviving member of her family’s generation, and her children and a few of the older grandchildren are there, some weeping and others just numb by the sight of this saintly old woman in pain and in her last minutes of life.
The agony of dying has made her tense and fearful over the last few days. The pain commands her every waking moment. However, in her dying moments, a calm takes over as she gazes at her loved ones, a gentle smile spreading over her face. Her mind has an unusual clarity. She looks at each person in the room and whispers in a raspy voice, “I love you”. Moments later, her heart stopped beeping.
The monitors scream warning bells as hospital personnel rush to the room, desperately taking measures to revive her, but to no avail. Family members cry openly, not holding back. Hands cover mouths. Gasps are heard as the inevitable has finally happened. She is gone. Her life on earth is over, and what is left is the physical shell of a body withered and frail, lifeless in the hospital bed.
Peering down from heaven, the excitement crescendos. Folks chatter excitedly, and laughter and boisterous shrieks are heard around the room. Everyone is on their feet, gazing towards the portal opening.
It’s my turn to welcome our new heavenly guest, and the crowd instinctively creates a path for me to walk to the front. Overjoyed, I accommodate, walk to the portal opening, and stand, waiting eagerly for the new arrival. Right next to me is my wife, the new arrival’s husband, and parents, her two sisters, and many other relatives and close friends. The anticipation is almost unbearable. Eerily, there are cries, hands covering mouths, and gasps, just like in the hospital. However, there is no sadness in the arena. The anticipated exuberance will come when the soul appears through the opening.
The Rebirth Portal is activated, lights start glowing, and it quivers like a living organism doing an animated dance. A whoosh is heard in the portal as the soul speeds quickly from earth towards heaven.
The noise in the crowded arena dissipates as mouths emit smiles, eyes twinkle with delight, and folks lock arms. The portal ceases shaking and opens, giving birth to a young and radiant figure. The old woman who died in the hospital is replaced by a joyful young lady, wide-eyed with excitement, staring delightedly around the room. As she stands, the crowd goes wild. Cheering, laughter, spontaneous singing, fist pumps, and bear hugs make the room sound like a beautiful yet chaotic symphony.
I raise my hand to quiet the crowd. All eyes are on the young woman, who instantly recognizes everyone in the room. She knows every one of them. The gaze returns and settles on me, a wonderful smile spreading over her face. She speaks for the first time in heaven. “Hi, Grampy!” My smile broadens as I say, “Welcome to heaven, Penny. Your faith has made you whole.”
We hug as joyous tears fill our eyes with the full awareness that this place makes anything on earth feel like a bad dream. Her family surrounds her while the crowd erupts again with raucous joy. A reception line is formed to greet this newest member of God’s forever family. No one is in a hurry. There is an eternity to catch up.
We walk over to an arena packed with seats situated around an opening that we know is the portal for the rebirth of souls from Earth. I take my place alongside her immediate family. We talk excitedly. A crowd now awaits the arrival of this special person, and there is an electrifying air of anticipation. The soul coming was influential in helping many during her life, and, as a result, every chair was occupied with standing room only.
We are allowed to peer down on earth and see into an assisted living facility where an elderly woman in her early nineties is gasping for air. She is close to death. Her family surrounds her bed as needles poke her skin, connected to wires attached to monitors that are beeping methodically. Tubes up her nose give her oxygen as she strains to breathe. She is struggling to stay alive even though she knows it’s her time to die.
She is the last surviving member of her family’s generation, and her children and a few of the older grandchildren are there, some weeping and others just numb by the sight of this saintly old woman in pain and in her last minutes of life.
The agony of dying has made her tense and fearful over the last few days. The pain commands her every waking moment. However, in her dying moments, a calm takes over as she gazes at her loved ones, a gentle smile spreading over her face. Her mind has an unusual clarity. She looks at each person in the room and whispers in a raspy voice, “I love you”. Moments later, her heart stopped beeping.
The monitors scream warning bells as hospital personnel rush to the room, desperately taking measures to revive her, but to no avail. Family members cry openly, not holding back. Hands cover mouths. Gasps are heard as the inevitable has finally happened. She is gone. Her life on earth is over, and what is left is the physical shell of a body withered and frail, lifeless in the hospital bed.
Peering down from heaven, the excitement crescendos. Folks chatter excitedly, and laughter and boisterous shrieks are heard around the room. Everyone is on their feet, gazing towards the portal opening.
It’s my turn to welcome our new heavenly guest, and the crowd instinctively creates a path for me to walk to the front. Overjoyed, I accommodate, walk to the portal opening, and stand, waiting eagerly for the new arrival. Right next to me is my wife, the new arrival’s husband, and parents, her two sisters, and many other relatives and close friends. The anticipation is almost unbearable. Eerily, there are cries, hands covering mouths, and gasps, just like in the hospital. However, there is no sadness in the arena. The anticipated exuberance will come when the soul appears through the opening.
The Rebirth Portal is activated, lights start glowing, and it quivers like a living organism doing an animated dance. A whoosh is heard in the portal as the soul speeds quickly from earth towards heaven.
The noise in the crowded arena dissipates as mouths emit smiles, eyes twinkle with delight, and folks lock arms. The portal ceases shaking and opens, giving birth to a young and radiant figure. The old woman who died in the hospital is replaced by a joyful young lady, wide-eyed with excitement, staring delightedly around the room. As she stands, the crowd goes wild. Cheering, laughter, spontaneous singing, fist pumps, and bear hugs make the room sound like a beautiful yet chaotic symphony.
I raise my hand to quiet the crowd. All eyes are on the young woman, who instantly recognizes everyone in the room. She knows every one of them. The gaze returns and settles on me, a wonderful smile spreading over her face. She speaks for the first time in heaven. “Hi, Grampy!” My smile broadens as I say, “Welcome to heaven, Penny. Your faith has made you whole.”
We hug as joyous tears fill our eyes with the full awareness that this place makes anything on earth feel like a bad dream. Her family surrounds her while the crowd erupts again with raucous joy. A reception line is formed to greet this newest member of God’s forever family. No one is in a hurry. There is an eternity to catch up.
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Standing Firm in the Face of Spiritual Warfare: Insights from Ephesians 6My Words from God’s WordBubble Wrapped LifeTough Questions, Difficult AnswersThe Book of Acts: A Continuing Story of Jesus' MinistryThe Rebirth PortalA Simple Faith; A Complicated LifeHope Rekindled: The Kingdom's Spiritual Power and Global Reach
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