The topic of Heaven has always been mysterious and elusive to me. In some ways, it has even been abstract.
What exactly will we be doing in Heaven? I completely understand and agree that our primary purpose in Heaven will be to bring God glory. But what does that look like?
I’ll be the first to admit that while I enjoy praise and worship in its traditional sense in most evangelical churches, I can also emphatically state that I almost have a feeling of dread if that is all we will be doing in Heaven. That being said, I realize our praise in heaven will be perfect and our praise and worship here on earth is not. If we were to only sing in Heaven, then that will be to the fullest of God’s joy and our own as well. Selfishly, and possibly even sinfully, I want something different.
In Heaven, we will create.
I recently read a book entitled Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview by Albert M. Wolters. While reading the book, a somewhat insignificant idea (at least in the book) became obvious to me as to what Heaven will entail. The context of this book is about all of creation being redeemed in that there is no separation of the “sacred” from the “secular”. While I don’t want to put words into the mouth of Wolters, something hit me in his text about Heaven. The book states, that “We are called to participate in the ongoing creational work of God, to be God’s helper in executing to the end the blueprint of his masterpiece.”
In Heaven, we will create. We will be finite creators as God intended when He created the world “in the beginning.” We will create worship towards God in various ways such as music, art, architecture, culture and even entertainment. Yes, even entertainment. I can only imagine the types of board games we will invent in Heaven, the new sporting events that we will attend, and the wonderful dramas we will appreciate, all bringing God glory. Wolters also points out that “the Bible begins with a garden and ends with a city.” Would it not be right to assume in the city of Heaven, that we will be free to live and create as God originally intended and as citizens of a city do?
Perhaps the most solid argument I can bring to this claim is from Genesis 1:27 that states we are created in God’s own image. In the image of God (the creator of the universe and everything in it) we are created. God is the ultimate creator, and through his creation he receives glory and praise. As his created beings, will we not create perfectly once we are glorified in Heaven?
10 Comments
Nice.
Hell is equally peculiar to me. What will they do? I’ve come to a little understanding of what they will do from reading “Whatever Happened to Hell?” by John Blanchard - a book I’ve read a few times and ought to read again. I think you can learn a lot about heaven when you learn about hell; likewise, you can learn a lot about hell when you learn about heaven. They are the opposites of one another. They are enslaved; we are free. They are separated; we are joined. They serve themselves; we serve God. Not everything is simply opposite, but can help us understand.
I’ve often heard, humorously from speakers, “Tyler’s the only one that’s gonna’ have a job in heaven!” I hope not. I love my career, always have. I really enjoy what I do but I barely think that singing will be anymore significant in heaven than anything else will be. (There will be angels constantly devoted to that). I wonder what language they’ll be singing “holy, holy, holy” in? Hebrew? I do however think that music is set apart from other art forms.
I like to imagine that we will be doing exactly what we ARE (meaning currently on earth) designed to do, in the center of His will. What gifts and abilities we use now will only be magnified by the lack of imperfections we will have in His presence. God did not make any of us temporarily but eternally. I think some of us will be surprised what our gifts and abilities actually were.
There are too many thoughts here. :)
@Tyler - Maybe we can play in the same band again, in heaven. :)
@Aaron - I don’t know why not! Have you ever read John Piper’s, Desiring God? It’s quite the sit down. Like the bible, it’s simply complex and practically distant. It has shaped many of my views on our relationship with the Trinity.
I read most of it quite a while ago. I’d like to read it again at some point. There is a chapter on worship isn’t there?
There is a chapter on worship.
Aaron- you may be interested in reading Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright. This post reminded me of some of the concepts in the book.
Lee, thanks for the comment and book recommendation. I’ll have to check that out.
I always thought of heaven a bit like this: http://tr.im/gKfH
Except for #10. Its a bit sick and twisted.
Heaven (and the New Earth) are the return to the norm, something we are far from right now. If our picture of the afterlife is all clouds, harps and angel wings, its no wonder non-Christians think hell sounds more like a party.
I think being finite in the afterlife is a blessing, it implies we won’t reach saturation, that we will always have more to see, experience and create. Especially as this relates to God.
That map is crazy, heh.
Good point about not reaching saturation.
Heaven also seems to be a “new” place.
As we have been doing a little renovation, we have had to purchase a few “new” things, which is frankly always nice to enjoy something that’s clean, spotless, and undamaged., i.e. “new”.
Scripture says,
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ……. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them…..He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
Guess there won’t be any antiques in heaven? (although I do like an appreciate antiques).
Hmmm
Comments are closed.