I’ve heard people say, “I’m glad I’m going to heaven, but what are we going to DO for eternity?”  And that’s a valid question: what is heaven going to be like?

The answer is: I don’t know.  We do have some indications in Scripture. Revelation 22 mentions fruit, so eating is probably a possibility.  Jesus says there will be no marriage.  We do know that there will be no more sin, no more suffering, no more crying, and no more pain.  This post isn’t meant to be a comprehensive statement about what heaven will be like.  I just had a thought, and decided to share it. 

You know how certain things in life make you feel good? These activities vary widely. Petting a cat. Hugging someone. Giving someone a really special gift. Emptying your bladder after holding it too long. Laughing really hard. Sharing sex with your spouse. Eating things that taste really good.  Backrubs. Doing nice things for people.  The list goes on and on.  These feelings of pleasure come from God. These are psychological and biological mechanisms given by our Creator which make us feel good. 

So here’s my thought: what if being in the presence of God makes us feel that good? What if living with no sin, with the curse of sin lifted brings mental, emotional, and physical joy like we have never known before on earth?  What if the pleasure that comes from earthly things is just a small taste of what it will be like to finally fulfil our intended purpose: that of worshiping God day and night? It is possible. I don’t know for sure, I only suspect that in fulfilling our true purpose before God we will experience something like this.

But what I do know is that we are not supposed to live for the pleasures of this earth, twisting the gifts of joy that God has given us into sinful desires and actions.  Do not choose the pleasure of sin over the joy of following God and doing His will. 

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. – 2 Peter 3:10-13