The Occupation of Heaven
Jesus, unlike the founder of any other major faith, holds out hope for ordinary human life. Our future is not an ethereal, impersonal form of consciousness. We will not float through the air, but rather will eat, embrace, sing, laugh, and dance in the kingdom of God, in degrees of power, glory, and joy that we can’t at present imagine.One rather outspoken American Pastor makes the point that if in Heaven we spend our time with chubby cherubs flying around and plucking harps then Heaven is not to be particularly desired at all! Thankfully Heaven isn’t quite like that.
Tim Keller, Prodigal God
What do we know about the activities (or Habits- if you like alliteration) of Heaven? Well, as we discussed in an earlier post, we will no longer hunger or thirst. Does that mean that food is off the menu (excuse the pun) in Heaven? Surprisingly, no.
Isaiah has this to say about day-to-day life in Heaven:
They shall build houses and inhabit them;I remember in my early school days learning that verbs are ‘doing words’. To help us understand exactly what we shall be ‘doing’ in heaven I have highlighted the verbs above.
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.(Isaiah 65:21-22 ESV)
We won’t hunger but we will eat! That’s good news. Food purely for pleasure. Heaven will be a community of farmers growing delicious delicacies!
As the passage mentions, construction work will be needed in Heaven! We will build homes to inhabit. How then does that fit in with Jesus’ own words, “In my Father's house are many mansions” . Why do we need to build homes if God has many mansions already prepared for us?! (The ESV and NIV translations talk of rooms instead of mansions. ) Speaking frankly, I don’t know the answer- something for you to ponder in your own time!
Many contemporary preachers and writers talk about The Cultural Mandate. You will remember that after God created Adam and Eve he commanded them to ‘subdue’ and to ‘fill’ and to ‘have dominion’ over the earth. He also commanded them to ‘work’ and to ‘keep’ the garden of Eden. Many people take these commands and apply them to us today. Julian Hardyman (author of ‘Glory Days’) says this:
God didn’t just want everything to stay the same. He wanted humanity to apply itself to a massive development project. Life wasn’t to be static….. At first sight it sounds as though we should all become horticulturalists or foresters. Now its great to be a gardener, but God is interested in more than gardens.He goes on to describe ‘The Human Cultural Project’ and how art, poetry, science, cities, technology, sport and agriculture can be used to glorify God by growing and developing the potential of planet earth.
How is this relevant to life in Heaven?- I hear you ask.
Well, if this was God’s initial desire for humanity in Eden, then would he not wish a similar thing for redeemed humanity in Heaven? We have already learnt that Heaven will involve work. Perhaps now we can see, somewhat more clearly, the form this work will take. Music, dance, building, writing, growing: all of it will be harnessed to the glory of God.
The acute reader will have realised that I haven’t yet mentioned the main activity of the Heavenly citizens: worship. I will leave you with this passage from scripture to read through. Rejoice in the future you have in store if you are redeemed through the Lord Jesus Christ! Remember: The Church is the bride and our bridegroom is Jesus himself.
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
(Revelation 19:6-9 ESV)
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