Some of the most interesting concepts in Alcorn’s two books were about what we’ll do in heaven.
As in, no, we don’t just sit on clouds playing harps.
It is much, much more exciting than that:
“Heaven will offer much-needed rest to the weary (Rev 14:13). But rest renews us, revitalizes us to become active again. Heaven will offer refreshing activity, productive and unthwarted – like Adam and Eve’s work in Eden before sin brought the curse on the ground.
In heaven, we’re told, ‘his servants will serve him’ (Rev 22:3). This means we’ll be active, because to ‘serve’ means to work, to expend effort, to do something. Service involves responsibilities, duties, effort, planning, and creativity to do work well.
We’ll lead and exercise authority in heaven, making important decisions. We’ll reign with Christ (2 Timothy 2:12; Rev 3:21), not temporarily but ‘for ever and ever’ (Rev 22:5). ‘Reigning’ implies specific delegated responsibilities for those under our leadership (Luke 19:17-19). We’ll rule over the world and even over angels (1 Cor 6:2-3).”
Alcorn, pgs. 114, 115
I think of C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe when, at the end, the children rule as kings and queens of Narnia: King Peter the Magnificent, Queen Susan the Gentle, King Edmund the Just, and Queen Lucy the Valiant.
It’s a beautiful picture, but one we often don’t imagine of our lives in heaven. Us rule? When we’re in the presence of the Great Ruler?
Says Alcorn, “Prior to Christ’s return, his Kingdom will be intermingled with the world’s cultures (Matt 13:24-30). But his followers will be growing in character and proving their readiness to rule. Through adversity and opportunity, as well as in their artistic and cultural accomplishments, they will be groomed for their leadership roles in Christ’s eternal Kingdom. Their society-transforming creative skills will be put on prominent display in the new universe, where they will ‘shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father’ (Matt 13:43).
I can’t tell you how much more this motivates me to work on Christ-like character and servant leadership qualities! If I’m just working on them to feel good about myself, I’ll get bored faster than fast. Even if I’m working on them to better serve people I love, I’ve gotta be honest: I’m just selfish enough for that to motivate me only so far in this journey. But if my character is being grown to rule for all eternity, I want in on that! I want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things, I’ll put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your Master’s happiness.”
Does that sound too selfish? I don’t know. Seems like God really wants us to be hedonistic in desiring Him and His ways (see also…well, anything written by John Piper). It would be weird to command us to store up treasures in heaven if there won’t be any treasures in heaven to enjoy. Or if we’re expected to not enjoy the ones we’ve stored up cause that seems too selfish. It also seems silly for Paul to say, “If we endure, we will also reign with Him” (2 Tim 2:12) if we’re not supposed to want to reign with Him.
And let’s be honest. The God Who didn’t spare His own Son for us isn’t interested in making us some kind of dictators. He’s interested in fulfilling to perfection His original commission to Adam and Eve: “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Gen. 1:28).
How wonderful is that? Doing that without sin or decay or bad motives or broken relationships? In His presence for ever and ever? On a New Earth with new bodies?
That’s motivation, even for someone as self-focused as I can be.
Do whatever You have to, Jesus, to transform us and prepare us for our eternal destiny. Use us to change the eternal destiny of others. We want to hear, “Well done.” We want to store up treasures in heaven. We want to love our neighbor as ourselves.
We want to follow You because what else can we do when you have changed our lives?
You are worth it all.