Of course, we don’t naturally like all textures, do we? That scratchy shirt, or the textures of certain foods we don’t prefer. 

C.S. Lewis, in his allegory, The Great Divorce, imagines heaven as a substantial place, a weighty place. In this place, the redeemed become solid and are able to bend the grass as they walk; but some of the ghostlike visitors hate it—because they aren’t solid enough. The grass is harder than they are. It’s too uncomfortable (and in their discontent, they actually get back on the bus to leave). 

Parents work hard to try to get kids not only to eat their vegetables, but to learn to love them. To actually prefer them over less substantial food. 

Growth is a lifelong process of learning to love what God loves and to hate what God hates. A lot of it is fun—thrilling, actually. Much is extremely painful, a process the Bible refers to as daily “crucifixion.”

But the promise is that the joy will be far greater than the suffering. That He will make all things new. That our tears will not be wasted—that the faithful will become solid at last and be able to bend that glorious grass underfoot in the High Country.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18