I like to think that there are lots of things we’ll be doing in heaven. We’ll renew old acquaintances. We’ll enjoy great fellowship with family members who have gone on before us. I like to think I’ll be able to finally trace my genealogy all the way back to Japheth, and even to Adam. We’ll get to meet the great heroes of our faith. I have lots of questions for Paul and Moses as I’m sure you do as well. Most importantly, we’ll get to have a personal relationship with our Creator and our Redeemer Himself. There will be worship beyond our imagination in heaven. There will be sights, sounds, smells, sensations, as well as tastes that defy our current imagination. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:9 that our senses haven’t experienced these things yet. He writes, “eye has not seen, nor ear has heard, nor has it entered into the mind of man, what God has in store for those who love Him.” But it goes on to say that “spirit has revealed these things to us.” I think that means we know what’s coming, but we’ll have to wait till we get there to experience it all.

If there’s such a thing as time in heaven, I don’t have any idea how much time all of this will require. But, I believe there will be time for work as well. But, work will not be work! I think heaven will be much like God’s perfect creation at the fall. Just as Adam was given complete stewardship and even dominion over all of creation so too will the residents of heaven have meaningful and significant roles to play. Jesus made it clear that those “who have been faithful over a few things, I will make rulers over many things” (Matthew 25:23). I don’t think we can call this “work.” The word contains such negative connotations. It only became dismal and difficult after the fall. Instead of having “work” to do, we’ll have “dominion” to exercise.

Ephesians 2:6 says we have been “seated in heavenly places” with Christ. Just as we are saved now, but yet “will be saved” in the future, I like to think there’s an experiential aspect of the “heavenly places” where we are figuratively now, but will be literally then. Scientists now know that there are more galaxies in the universe than there are people that have ever been born on earth, or who will ever be born! Why did God create all that? What is their purpose, and what is their future? Could it be for our eventual dominion? And we will have all eternity to explore, giving glory to Him in it all, and pleasing Him with our faithful stewardship of the things entrusted to us! (I can dream can’t I?)

Chuck
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)