Heavenly things

There are many things that I've wondered about heaven over the years and many questions that I have been asked about heaven by those I serve. Some common questions are: What we will look like in heaven? Will we need to eat or drink in heaven? Will I recognize my family members and friends there? Is there a chance the my husband/wife will still be my spouse in heaven? What will we do in heaven?

Most of those questions I will admit I'm vague upon, although I'm pretty sure that there will be sushi and college football in heaven (I can't back that up in Scripture but it just makes sense to me). Jesus addressed heaven on many occasions and it would seem that marital relationships won't be the same in heaven as they are here and we will also possess glorified bodies, but beyond that I'm not much of an expert on the nature of heaven. But that last question, "What will we do in heaven?", has a pretty good answer.

In Revelation 4-5, John was given a glimpse into the throne room of heaven. Seated on the throne was the Lord Himself and He was surrounded by 24 elders and 4 six-winged creatures. Revelation 4:8 says of the creatures, "Day and night they never stop, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come." Following this in Revelation 4:9-11 it says that whenever the living creatures gave glory, honor and thanks to the One seated on the throne (which was constantly), the 24 elders would bow before the Lord, cast their crowns before His throne, and say: Our Lord and God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You have created all things, and because of Your will they exist and were created." The picture we get is of these 4 incredible creatures praising God non-stop and of the 24 elders in a constant state of bowing on their faces and praising God.

Moving on to Revelation 5:11-14 we see thousands of angels around the throne saying "with a loud voice: The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" Then every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea declared "Blessing and honor and glory and dominion to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!" At these words the four living creatures shouted "Amen!" and the 24 elders fell down and worshiped (again - they spent more time bowing than sitting or standing).

Does this conjure up for you an incredible picture of what the activity of heaven will be like? Or are you left wandering, "Is that all we're gonna do in heaven - sit around and praise God all day?" The answer to that question is simple: Yes, that's exactly what we're going to do. I've had people tell me that this sounds awful boring. They say this as if heaven was all about them and not about the presence of God. Who said heaven was about us? Where in the Bible does it say anything about our agenda when we're in the presence of God? If that's the way that we see heaven, then who in the world do we think we are?

Heaven is about a holy and incomparable God inviting us into His presence for eternity because of the price that was paid for our sin on the cross by Jesus His Son. In heaven, we will be in the very presence of the incredible and powerful and beautiful and majestic God of the universe through whom all things exist and we have our very being. Heaven is about God, not about us. If you are concerned at the lack of entertainment that there will be in heaven then perhaps you don't truly know this God with whom you claim you will spend eternity with. When we begin to grasp with our limited knowledge just how great our God is while we are still on earth, then how much greater will our excitement be to spend eternity with the One who is our everything?