My mother and I differ
from each other in
some fundamental
ways. She counts it
a pleasure to go to
a social event and meet strangers.
I prefer to read about such things
in a good book. In quiet moments,
my mother likes to sew. The closest
I come to enjoying homely duties
is puttering in my garden, pulling
weeds, and pruning my newest
rosebush. My mother’s idea of the
perfect outdoor activity is shopping
at flea markets for antiques. I would
rather be on the trail with my mountain
bike or heading downstream in
my canoe.
I suppose these basic differences
could be thought of as a problem
for our relationship. But we have
found ways to work around them.
Somehow we survived my growing
up years together. We both love the
same family—our family—and
refuse to let our differences divide
us. We admire each other’s skills and
handiwork and enjoy sharing our
accomplishments with each other.
And we have plans for the future.
When we get to heaven,1 we plan
to go into business together. I will
play architect, designing and landscaping
buildings, while she decorates
the interiors, coordinating
everything from paint colors and
wallpaper patterns down to the dishes
in the kitchen cabinet. We can’t
wait to discover the new building
materials and decorations we will
have to work with.
Our favorite Bible verse about heaven
is Isaiah 65:21: “They will build
houses and dwell in them; they will
plant vineyards and eat their fruit.”
We’re pretty sure that in heaven, just
as is true here on earth, there will be
people who would rather do something else with their time than plan
and supervise building construction.
Of course, we can’t be too specific
about our plans since we don’t have a
detailed picture of what heaven will
be like. But we do know that “no
eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no
mind has conceived what God has
prepared for those who love him.”2
With a promise like that, the sky is
the limit of what we will be able to
do. There’s no guarantee that heaven
will be like what we envision, but the
good news is that God will provide
something even better than the best
thing we can imagine.
nine-story house
I have a friend who has already
planned a nine-story house with
a seven-story mango tree growing
in the atrium and a waterfall coming
out of the fourth story. Another
person I know envisions a personal
planet covered with fine powder snow
in living colors piled on mile-high
mountains. As he skis through the
snow, the particles vibrate together in
enchanting musical harmonies.
Of course, architecture is not the
only thing I am looking forward
to in heaven. There are a thousand
(and more) things I want to do
that I know I’ll never get to in this
life. I would like to be an artist, to
paint pictures that give glimpses into
the heart of things. My
weak singing voice has
always been a trial to
me. I dream of being
able to sing my heart
out in heaven with a
voice like Mahalia Jackson’s.
Financial constraints will no longer
limit my travel. Imagine the exotic
locations we’ll find when we can
journey to the stars. Why not little
home spots (simple condos would
be fine) on several far flung planets?
And there’ll be no rush to get back
to work Monday morning.
Imagine the people we will meet
and the stories we will hear—more
fascinating than any book we have
ever read or any movie we have ever
watched. And, speaking of movies,
God must have all the happiest
stories recorded in a technology
far beyond our finest virtual-reality
multimedia machines. Why not
watch some of these ultramovies on
His five dimensional surround sight
discovery modules?
I’ve always wanted to have more
time to spend with my friends and
family. Maybe we will get together
and spend a hundred years touring
the west end of the Orion Nebula.
Or we could have a garden party
in my three-hundred-acre arboretum near Alpha Centauri. (After
all, the Bible does hint of heavenly
banquets!) I like to imagine my
family and friends enjoying the
most mouth watering gourmet food
together—and it’s all good for us,
even the chocolate! Maybe I can
find someone who loves to cook who
will trade a few gourmet meals for a
newly designed house. (The dishes,
of course, will be dirtproof and won’t
need cleaning.)
the greatest joy
The Bible suggests that what we
will enjoy most about heaven is the
joy of being with Jesus. That sounds
rather pious and unlikely at first
thought. But then I remember that
even here on earth we prize above
everything else our relationships
with family and friends. It seems
only natural that I will enjoy even
more being with this incredibly caring
divine Friend who never lets me
down. His disciples certainly felt
that way.
I know myself well enough to
realize that I would not be satisfied
just wandering around, pleasing
myself throughout eternity. I need
to feel that I am doing something
meaningful, something that makes
a difference in other people’s lives. I
suppose architecture could count for
that, but I am glad to learn from the
Bible that we will all have a place to
serve God. Maybe I will be part of a
heavenly gospel music group touring
the universe to sing about what Jesus
did for us. Or possibly I can help
care for the gardens around His city
palace in the New Jerusalem. There’s
plenty of time to try anything.
Sometimes I wonder what makes
me think I belong in heaven in the
first place. I certainly haven’t done
anything particularly righteous or
impressive to win my way there.
I’m glad to know that God isn’t
interested in acting as a heavenly
gatekeeper, trying to keep people
out of heaven. Yet I appreciate the
fact that He is committed to making
sure that heaven will be a happy
place for everyone. He designed His
law carefully to describe how we can
live so that we, and everyone else
around us, can be happy.
If I weren’t interested in keeping
His law, I would be pretty miserable
in heaven and so would the people
who were stuck living near me. I’m
thankful He allowed His Son to die
to bring us forgiveness and a new
heart for positive living—because I
have big plans for heaven.
