 | The Reverend Amy Baumgartner is the Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, 525 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS. Amy was ordained at First Presbyterian Church of Wichita, Kansas in June 2008. She earned a Masters of Divinity from Denver Seminary. Before attending seminary, Amy graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Landscape Architecture and worked several years for an architectural firm in Indianapolis, Indiana. You may contact Rev. Baumgartner by email AssociatePastor@firstpresbywichita.org, or by phone at (316) 263-0248. |
Religion
2012-02-27 14:14:21
More to heaven than worship?
A: Heaven, while giving many people hope, is shrouded in mystery. The Bible describes heaven as the place where God dwells, and Jesus told his followers that he was going to prepare a place that where he went they would also go. Therefore, heaven is the place where believers will be with the Lord forever. Jesus encouraged followers to store up treasures in heaven instead of accumulating treasures on earth; this indicates there can be a preparation process for heaven while one is still on earth. Yet, eternity is difficult for us to grasp fully.
The final book of the Bible speaks of a new heaven where God will live with God’s people forever. The writer seems to speak in metaphorical language about heaven using a brilliant light, gold, splendor and beauty. Heaven is presented as a place of great glory because God is there. Perhaps we do not have many details about heaven because ordinary language fails to sum up what it will truly be like. However, it is described as a place where there is no more death, mourning, crying or pain. Beyond the presence of God, the Bible does not give many details of what is there. Perhaps by focusing on the negative aspects of life that will not be present, it reveals how wonderful a place it will be. While it is difficult to comprehend eternity, it is also difficult to fully grasp what it will be like to live without the reality of death and pain.
As to your question about what we will do in heaven, the few Biblical images of heaven describe worship. But there will also be feasting (Revelation mentions the wedding feast of the Lamb). Heaven will also be a place of rest. This rest is not necessarily the cessation of activity but an end to our daily struggle against our flesh, the world, and evil. It will be the completion of our Christian journey. While it may be difficult to fathom worshipping forever, we only know worship from this side of heaven with all its imperfections. Without death or pain, worship is likely to take on a deeper and richer depth.
In addition to rest, feasting and worship, some of Jesus’ stewardship parables about the end times seem to indicate that work will continue in heaven. Our work or service in heaven will be on behalf of the King.
I realize I may not have finitely answered some of your concerns about heaven; however, I will end with words from 1 Corinthians 2:9-10: no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him.
