Three Permanent Perks Of Heaven

The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.
–Habakkuk 2:14

In Heaven, we will have work to do, but we are not going to work all the time. We are also going have some fun in Heaven! Let’s look at what I call three permanent perks of Heaven.

First of all, Heaven will be a time of enjoying other believers. God made us in such a way that we need fellowship with other human beings, and in Heaven we are going to enjoy that in a way we never experienced on earth. In Heaven, gone will be the impure motives, suspicions, and sins that taint relationships today. Think about how fascinating it is going to be to talk to your great-great-grandparents who are in Heaven and learn more about your family. Or think what it will be like to hear Noah tell about what it was like on that ark, or David describe his miraculous victory over Goliath, or the disciples describe that first Easter morning. Think about talking theology with Martin Luther or talking science with Blaise Pascal. Think about talking to courageous leaders like William Wilberforce, or those who wrote beloved hymns like Fanny Crosby. Can you imagine sitting down and having a book review with C. S. Lewis or Flannery O’Connor? That is what we are going to be doing in Heaven–enjoying perfect fellowship with one another.

Second, Heaven will be a time of learning more about God. Yes, the prophet Habakkuk promised that “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord” (2:14), but have you ever wondered how that knowledge will come? When we die, is there a sudden information dump into our brains where we know everything about God? Maybe. But think about your most important relationships on Earth. Hasn’t part of the enjoyment of that relationship been learning more about that person over a period of time rather than learning everything at once? There is a joy of discovery. I have spent 50 years getting to know my wife, Amy. There is lot more to discover, and the process has been exhilarating. It will be the same way in our relationship with God. I think we will have all eternity to get to know God.

Third, Heaven will be a time of experiencing real rest. In Heaven, we will be engaged in meaningful work, but that does not mean that is all we are going to do. You know, with the Israelites God set aside a day of rest, and then He set aside certain weeks and certain months, and sometimes there was a year of rest as well. I think we will experience the same thing in Heaven. There will be times that we will rest from our labors, times we will be able to have true satisfaction in a job well done. It is that rest that reminds us that as important as our work is here and will be in Heaven, there is more to life than working. Heaven will be a place of enjoying the perfect fellowship with others and that perfect relationship with God that we have always longed for. That is what we will be doing in Heaven. Aren’t you ready to go? God has a great indescribable future planned for those who love Him.

Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Who Will Be In Heaven?” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2016.

Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.lockman.org)