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Why the Reality of Heaven Matters 3: The Activity Schedule

Day 3 – The Activity Schedule: What Will I Do There?

If you have ever been on a cruise vacation or attended a weekend retreat or assisted in a summer day camp, you know all about activity schedules. Seemingly every day, there is a new special event that we just cannot miss. Every hour, there is another food to eat, location to visit, exercise to participate in, or teaching session to attend. If you are anything like me, these activity schedules can start as fun but end up being exhausting. 

In Heaven, we will have imperishable bodies that are not subject to the fatigue we experience on earth (1 Corinthians 15:53). Yet, even in that world full of beautiful sights to explore, our activities will be focused around one person—Jesus Christ. Simply, we will live with Him, worship Him, and serve Him. That’s all we know, and truly, all we need to know.

Throughout the New Testament, particularly in the book of Revelation, we read descriptions of life in Heaven that emphasize the few key activities that we will participate in when we are finally in our glorified bodies in a redeemed and renewed world. We know that Christ will receive us and give us the home He has prepared for us to live in (John 14:6), we will sing praises to God and give Him glory for who He is and all He has done (Revelation 5:11-13; 19:1), and we will gladly serve the King of Kings (Revelation 7:15).

Now, all of this may not sound like a vacation to you; that’s good, because it isn’t. Heaven will not be an escape from the work of real life on earth, but rather the glorious culmination of what life on earth was always designed to be. Those who have come to know and love God now will then be able to know and love God perfectly.

Perhaps more important than what we will do in Heaven, however, is what we won’t do there. We will never again cry, mourn, see death, or suffer pain (Revelation 21:4). We will never go hungry or thirsty, and we will not be burned or weakened by the sun’s heat (Revelation 7:16). We will never be alone, and we will never walk in darkness because Heaven has no night (Revelation 21:3,22-25). Every bit of relief that our hearts long for in this world—the peace, hope, joy, and intimacy that we crave—will be found in eternity with Jesus. 

Isaiah prophesies about Christ’s imminent return this way:

“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy…. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:3-4,10)

The lame will walk, the blind will see, and the deaf will hear! Even the predators will lie down beside their prey (Isaiah 65:25). In all of these glorious reversals, God will use Heaven to make right all the wrongs we experience in this sin-ravaged world. No wonder we will be singing and serving! Our souls will be invigorated by the transformative power of God, which has not only rescued us individually from the power of sin and darkness but lifted our entire universe from a state of ruin and decay to utter beauty.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4, ESV)

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