Much of what the average person believes regarding life in Heaven comes from our own sin corrupted imaginations or from what we have heard on TV, the internet or even in church, and not from diligent study of and meditation on God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15).
Many imagine that Heaven is a place of endless pleasure, joy and delight – which it is (Psalm 16:11)! However, their conception of what these pleasures and delights consist of are informed only by the pleasures and delights they enjoy in this present world, such as some Muslims who see Heaven/Paradise as a place of endless sex and feasting. Others see Heaven as an enhanced version of the life of the rich and famous in this world, but without any of the bad stuff. Such a perception of Heaven shows how little we perceive, understand and value the beauty, the glory, the majesty and magnificence of the God who created us to enjoy and delight in Him.
At the other end of the spectrum is the idea that Heaven is a place of tedium and boredom, wherein we blissfully float around in the clouds with nothing to do but sing, strum harps and smile at each other. Others have the idea that Heaven is one unending church service with better singing. They imagine a solemn, joyless and unexciting eternity, which they desire only because it sounds much better than the other place.
There is certainly nothing in either of these conceptions of Heaven that would encourage me to long for it, to seek it above the seductive comforts, deceitful riches and alluring pleasures and delights offered by this present evil world (Galatians 1:4), which we are warned not to set our affections on (1 John 2:15-17).
One man who did devote his life to knowing and understanding the God who created Him (Jeremiah 9:23-24) and the Heaven for which he was destined was our old friend Jonathon Edwards. Edwards writes:
“Our joy and happiness and pleasure in heaven will be full and progressive – ever increasing- as throughout various periods of eternity, God, will reveal new and more glorious aspects of His infinite being for our pleasure and enjoyment of Him, provoking in us ever increasing praise and adoration. We will never be bored, never grow discontent, always be satisfied (in Him). When we think we are full, God will deepen our capacity to enjoy more of Him and His blessings.”
Edwards understood that Heaven, ultimately consisting of a new or renewed universe and earth, populated by holy angels and redeemed humanity, exists for the same reason everything else in creation exists, for the glory of God; that the infinite beauty and perfections of His being may be seen, known, experienced, enjoyed, rejoiced in, delighted in, proclaimed, displayed and magnified in all creation, particularly in mankind, who being created in the image of God, would and will find our greatest joy, our greatest pleasure, our greatest significance, our ultimate satisfaction in knowing, loving and being loved by God personally and intimately.
Thus, our life in Heaven will be one of endless, productive, exciting activity (Revelation 21:22-25). All of our faculties, time, and attention will be given over to exploring and enjoying the exceeding riches of God’s grace and the infinite perfections of His being as they are displayed uniquely in each of us as well as in the recreated universe and earth.
I noted in my previous post, that in God’s creation of the new heavens – a new universe if you will – there will again be planets, galaxies and constellations – new worlds for us to explore containing realms of beauty, wonder and excitement beyond anything our present earthbound existence can offer or imagine. The new earth will have its natural wonders, some of them never seen before, as it and all creatures living on it will manifest aspects of the infinite goodness, wisdom, power and creativity of our great and glorious God, all graciously given to us to freely enjoy (Romans 8:32) (1 Timothy 6:17).
It seems clear from what God has revealed in His word that in Heaven all redeemed men and women as well as the holy angels, whom we will have charge of (1 Corinthians 6:3), will be employed in God’s administration and superintendence over His new creation (Revelation 5:10). Our employment will likely be specifically fit for our unique personality and disposition, as well as the unique talents and abilities God will grant each of us. The realm of our responsibilities will likely be based on our faithfulness and spiritual growth and development while in this world (Luke 19:17). (Right now does count forever.)
Our work in Heaven will always be fruitful, a delight and not a drudgery as we will have been delivered from the curse of toil, sweat and weariness (Genesis 3:17-19) (Revelation 22:3), from the frustration and futility of our employment in this world which many times leaves us disappointed and unsatisfied, angry with ourselves, our employer and fellow employees. In Heaven every assignment will end in success that will bring glory to God and delight and benefit to others, while enhancing our own personal joy and satisfaction in God. We will experience no weariness, no sense of meaninglessness or purposelessness, and no layoffs as employees of God’s Kingdom.
God above all else, however, is a relational being whose very essence of being is that of love (1 John 4:16). This love is first and foremost manifested in the eternal love relationship between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It is the relationship which God created mankind to share in (Genesis 1:27), not as divine equals, but as beloved children. Thus, Heaven will be a place where we are totally and unconditionally loved, accepted, desired and valued by all who are there for who we are in Jesus Christ, and how we uniquely image certain aspects of His infinite glory, each of us gifted with individual talents and abilities that will be enjoyed and delighted in by all who are in Heaven – including God.
Thus, there will be no loneliness in Heaven, as we will live without any sense of the shame or inadequacy that causes us to fear the rejection, exploitation or judgement of others in this world. We will socialize in total comfort as we will each be welcomed wherever we go as a beloved child of God. We will enjoy intimate friendships with the angels, the apostles, the patriarchs and prophets of all ages. Redeemed family members, friends and loved ones from our life in this world as well as the glorified saints of all ages will be regular companions. Based on Genesis 2:18-20, it is likely we will have re fun and exciting relationships with all of the animals, who in the beginning it appears were all created to be friendly companions. (I could be persuaded that even cats will have a redeemed nature.)
There will be no small talk in Heaven. Just as our most enjoyable conversations in his world are focused primarily on sharing the glorious, exiting and joyful experiences we have had or are having with anyone who will listen, we will do the same in Heaven. The only difference being that all of our experiences will be exciting and joyful with God at the center of them. All of our conversations will therefore in some way focus on the glory of God and how we are experiencing aspects of that glory both in our individual lives and collectively, much as the conversation among God’s people should be today. It will be a glorious life, with all praise and blessing and glory and honor and thanksgiving being given to Him who sits on the throne and unto the Lamb, forever and ever, Amen (Revelation 5:13-14).
Grace and Peace ×
Very Encouraging ❣️