Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 158

Some Powerful Insights from John Rhys-Davies

Actor John Rhys-Davies is best known for his portrayal of Indiana Jones’s Egyptian friend Salla in Raiders of the Lost Ark and its sequels, and Gimli in The Lord of the Rings. I love both of those characters!

He gave an interview at this site. Listen to his great voice at about fifteen minutes into the program. There’s some bad language, but also some powerful and insightful points, perhaps all the more remarkable because they are not made by people who could be mistaken as fundamentalist Christians.

Here are some quotations in the interview from Rhys-Davies about the end of Christian civilization, just before they go off on the subject of cars:

“There is an extraordinary silence in the West. Christianity in the Middle East and in Africa is being wiped out — I mean not just ideologically but physically, and people are being enslaved and killed because they are Christians. And your country [the USA] and my country [the United Kingdom] are doing nothing about it. . . .”

“This is a unique age. We don’t want to be judgmental. Every other age that’s come before us has believed exactly the opposite. I mean, T. S. Eliot referred to ‘the common pursuit of true judgment.’ Yes, that’s what it’s about. Getting our judgments right, getting them accurate. . . .”

“It’s an age where politicians don’t actually say what they believe…. They are afraid of being judged as being partisan. Heaven forbid we should criticize people who, after all, share a different ‘value system.’ But it’s all … equally relative. We’re all the same. And God and the devil, they’re the same, aren’t they, really? Right and wrong? It’s really just two faces of the same coin.’ We have lost our moral compass completely, and unless we find it, we’re going to lose our civilization. I think we’re going to lose Western European Christian civilization anyway.”

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore

Dependence

I’m an insulin-dependent diabetic. Without a doubt, the greatest lesson I’ve learned through it is to depend not on myself, but God. (I believe it’s no accident that it appeared the same month my first book came out in 1985—so that I wouldn’t credit myself for that which God has gifted me in and graciously empowers me for.)

Every day I must take insulin injections (for many years manually, more recently with a pump) and blood tests. Each time I do, I’m reminded of my own frailty and inadequacy. In an immediate sense I’m dependent on my insulin to live. In an ultimate sense, I’m dependent on God to live. As Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Usually I live a normal life, but sometimes I’ve lain helpless, stiff as a board, not in my right mind, needing my wife to get sugar in my mouth. My once-strong body grows weak. Low blood sugar clouds my judgment and leaves me with a memory of having said stupid things, like a drunk.

This humbles me. But I can honestly say I’m grateful for it; yes, I even delight in it because my weakness draws me to greater dependence upon Christ.

Now, writing isn’t a disease (some might argue that point), but like my disease, it shows my weaknesses. In my writing I hit dead ends, wander in cul-de-sacs, waste days headed the wrong direction and occasionally nearly drive off the cliff. I’m never more keenly aware of my dependence on the Lord than when I’m writing a book.

Charles Hummel wrote that “the root of all sin is self-sufficiency—independence from God.” God has taught me that whether we write or build or draw or fix things or make a home for our families, He wants us to yield our gifts to Him, and depend on Him for the next step, even the next breath. I don't always succeed, but that's what I seek to do in my writing.

When Paul asked God to remove his disability, which he called a “thorn in the flesh,” instead of healing Paul (which might have resulted in him becoming self-sufficient) God said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." So Paul wrote, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

I’ve often asked God to give me strength, wisdom and perseverance as I write, and to just give me the right words. I do my part, as the junior partner, while God does his much greater part, as the senior partner, that in turn allows me to do mine: As Paul said, “I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:29).

I’m challenged and encouraged by these words from Charles Spurgeon:

Self-sufficiency is Satan’s net, wherein he catches men, like poor silly fish, and does destroy them. Be not self-sufficient. Think yourselves nothing, for you are nothing, and live by God’s help. The way to grow strong in Christ is to become weak in yourself. God pours no power into man’s heart till man’s power is all poured out. Live, then, daily, a life of dependence on the grace of God.

Lord, help us to humbly remember our dependence on You and Your grace. Thank you for the privilege of being Your instruments. 

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Will We Have Physical Bodies Between Our Death and Resurrection?

A fundamental article of the Christian faith is that the resurrected Christ now dwells in Heaven. We are told that His resurrected body on Earth was physical and that this same, physical Jesus ascended to Heaven, from where He will one day return to Earth. It seems indisputable, then, to say that there is at least one physical body in the present Heaven. If Christ’s body in the intermediate Heaven has physical properties, it stands to reason that others in Heaven could have physical forms as well, even if only temporary ones. If we know there is physical substance in Heaven (namely, Christ’s body), can we not also assume that other references to physical objects in Heaven, including physical forms and clothing, are literal rather than figurative?

Given the consistent physical descriptions of the present Heaven and those who dwell there, it seems possible—though this is certainly debatable—that between our earthly lives and our bodily resurrection God may grant us some temporary physical form that will allow us to function as human beings while in that unnatural state “between bodies” awaiting our bodily resurrection. (To avoid any misunderstanding, I need to emphasize a critical doctrinal point. According to Scripture, we do not receive resurrection bodies immediately after death. Resurrection does not happen one at a time. If we have intermediate forms in the intermediate Heaven, they will not be our true bodies, which we leave behind at death. Continuity is only between our original and our resurrection bodies.)

In an interview with Pastor Todd Wagner, I share more thoughts related to this question.

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Talking to Your Children about Creation, Christ, and Heaven

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15, ESV)

Second Timothy was Paul’s last letter, written from prison shortly before his execution. In this letter he left final instructions to Timothy, whom he had mentored.

Paul tells Timothy, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice” (2 Timothy 1:5). In the absence of a father, Timothy’s mother and grandmother did what God calls fathers to do. They passed on their faith in a way that made Timothy want to take ownership of it. How? In 3:15 Paul says, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Hearing God’s Word cultivates saving faith (Romans 10:17). God used His Word to bring Timothy to faith, apparently at a very early age.

The word for “childhood” here is often translated “infancy.” Parents are called to read Scripture to their children at very early ages. Some of our daughters’ earliest spoken sentences were verses, and both Karina and Angela came to Christ very young. There is no set age at which children can come to faith, but there does need to be some understanding of right and wrong, and of the fact that Jesus died so that we might be forgiven and live with Him in Heaven.

May we all look for opportunities to share Scripture and talk about Jesus and Heaven with the children we love. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you sensitive to the needs and interests of your children (and grandchildren). The following points might be good starting places for your conversations with them:

The World God Made

God made the earth, the sun and moon, and all the stars and planets. And He made the animals, then Adam and Eve. He put them in the beautiful Garden of Eden to work and rule the earth and to enjoy God and each other. It was a perfect place. (See Genesis 1–2.)

Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God. This is known as the Fall. Now we are under the Curse. People—and the earth—are no longer perfect. (See Genesis 3.) This is all because of our sin. God is perfectly holy, so He couldn’t let people get away with sinning. Adam and Eve had to leave the Garden, and work became harder. Suddenly there was suffering and death. Minds and hearts and bodies didn’t work right anymore. It was very sad.

God never gave up his original plan. That plan is for people who love and obey Him to rule a perfect earth, like the one God originally created.

Jesus and Us

Jesus, God’s Son, came from Heaven to earth. He became a human being and grew up to be a carpenter. Carpenters make things and fix things. Someday Jesus will fix us up so we’ll be perfect forever. He will make the earth perfect forever too! Jesus said that everything will be made like new again (see Matthew 19:28; Revelation 21:5).

Jesus loves us so much that He died on the cross for our sins. Then He came back to life. That’s called his resurrection. When we believe that this is true and ask Jesus to forgive us, He becomes our Savior!

We can let Jesus take charge of our lives because He knows what’s best for us. (Sometimes that includes difficult things, such as having a disability or sad things happening.) Letting Jesus be our King means we can enjoy having Him as our friend and leader, now and forever.

Heaven and Us

When people die, those who know Jesus as their Savior and King will go to Heaven. Life there is much better than it is here and now (see Philippians 1:21-23).

When people we love go to Heaven, we feel sad because we miss them. But we can be happy that they are in a wonderful place. If we love Jesus, we will see them again and live with them forever.

After Jesus comes back to earth, Heaven will be even more wonderful, because God will come down to live with us in a perfect New Earth. Even animals will no longer suffer. (See Romans 8:19-21.) It will be like the Garden of Eden, but better. Nothing bad or sad will be there (see Revelation 20:10; 21:1-4).

On the New Earth we will eat and laugh and play. We will have resurrection bodies like Jesus has (see Philippians 3:20-21). We know Jesus has a physical body, because after his resurrection He ate and let people touch Him. He said, “A ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have” (see Luke 24:38-43).

There will be a great city, the New Jerusalem, where we will worship God and serve Him and rule the earth with Him forever (see Revelation 21:1-2; 22:3-5). This means that we will never be bored. There will always be fun and exciting things to do! We will do what people were made to do—worship and talk and walk and eat and run and play and rest.

People of all different races and nations will be on the New Earth, and they will bring beautiful things to God, the King on the throne in the New Jerusalem (see Revelation 21:23-26). Since God will live there, the New Earth will be at the center of Heaven.

The tree of life, which was inEden, will be there, and we will eat from it (see Revelation 2:7; 22:1-2).

God will live with us, and we’ll never cry or get sick or have pain or disabilities (see Revelation 21:3-4). We’ll live forever with Jesus, the person we were made for, and we’ll live in Heaven, the place we were made for!

Note from EPM: Randy's book Heaven for Kids is on sale from EPM for $5 (64% off $13.99 retail) through Tuesday, September 8, 4 p.m. PT.

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A Plea to Christian Men

One of my favorite bloggers is Tim Challies. Tim offers great insights and links to many interesting and free resources, and often recommends great books.

Recently, in the wake of yet another Christian leader found to have committed immorality, Tim posted a response, actually a plea to Christian men, written by his wife Aileen. I found it both concise and powerful. I believe it’s something all of us men, Christian leaders in particular, need to hear and heed—for the glory of Jesus and the good of our families and churches.

My Wife's Plea to Christian Men

Over the weekend I could see that Aileen had something on her mind. We spoke and she told me about reading the news, about seeing more Christian men fall into scandal, and, in the face of it all, her confusion, her despair, the crumbling of her hope. I asked if she would write about it. Here is what she said. —Tim Challies

How long ago was it now? Was it ten years? Twelve? How long has it been since I faced it for the first time? It was a whispered rumor here, a shaded suggestion there. Then it was the devastated wife weeping in my basement as I tried desperately to draw on some wisdom, some biblical truth, that would help her. Little did I know, all those years ago, that this was simply the tip of the iceberg. But I had hope.

Six years ago, Tim wrote Sexual Detox, and I followed up with False Messages. The number of letters we received shocked us—heart-breaking, soul-crushing emails from guilty men and women married to unfaithful husbands. I wrestled and fought to understand it all from a biblical perspective. Why do so many men, and even so many Christian men, have such weakness when it comes to sexual sin? But even then I still had hope, hope in the truth of the gospel, hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the years since, I have listened to more stories of more Christian men falling, wept with more women, and prayed a whole lot. I have tried to explain to women how their husbands think about sex: Your husband doesn’t just want it, he wantsyou. I’ve tried to tell them that sex is a good gift that God gives as a means of grace in marriage, a means of bonding a husband and wife together. I have counseled single young women to pursue purity. I have been teaching all the right stuff. And I have believed it all. I had hope.

Then came Ashley Madison and the suggestion that hundreds of pastors would have to resign after being caught with accounts on this website that glorifies adultery. And it’s not just pastors—hundreds of other Christian men, both single and married, have been caught up in the scandal. Now there are more broken homes, more devastated churches, more weeping wives, more mocking of God. And I have to tell you, this week, today, I am struggling to find hope.

I have fought to understand the struggle men face. I have fought to have compassion. I have encouraged wives to extend forgiveness, to willingly and joyfully give themselves to their husbands. But you know what? I just don’t know how I can keep doing it. Not when so many husbands are deceptively defiling the marriage bed. Not when so many young, single men are recklessly defiling the future marriage bed. Not when so many men seem just plain unwilling to change.

Men, you are supposed to be modeling holiness before the world (Titus 2:6-8). You are supposed to be cherishing your wives as Christ cherishes his church (Ephesians 5:25). You are supposed to be abstaining from all sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3). You are supposed to be fleeing youthful passions (2 Timothy 2:22). Why are so many of you failing at these basic tasks? Is it really that difficult? You would almost think that this one sin is beyond the power of the Holy Spirit.

You who keep choosing to sin, you who keep visiting those websites, you who have secret lives you keep hidden from your friends and your wives: Why won’t you stop? You know that God loves to give victory over every sin. You know that God calls you to pursue sanctification. You know that the Holy Spirit equips you to succeed. God has given you everything you need in the gospel. So why do you keep failing? The only conclusion I can come to is that you are so consumed with self-gratification that you are not willing to fight, and I mean really willing to fight, this sin. If it’s not that you can’t, it must be that you won’t.

I plead with you. I plead with you on behalf of your wives, on behalf of your future wives, on behalf of Christian women everywhere: Stop. Just stop.

Stop believing that this is a special sin that women just can’t understand—we do understand sin. This isn’t a special sin, it is just sin: God-belittling, Christ-mocking, Spirit-despising sin. Stop pretending like there are no future consequences to your actions. Stop putting your selfish desires first. Stop engaging in activities that bring shame on the gospel. Stop doing things that leave us picking up the pieces of your devastated wife. Stop indulging in your sin, and start thinking and acting like a God-honoring, Christ-praising, Spirit-glorifying man. For the love of God and his church, stop.

Note from EPM: for resources on this subject, see Randy's book The Purity Principle and booklet Sexual Temptation: Establishing Guardrails and Winning the Battle

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How Do I Talk to My Kids about Abortion?

Yesterday the ninth video exposé on Planned Parenthood from The Center for Medical Progress was released. You can watch it and read more on Justin Taylor’s blog .

As the video exposés about Planned Parenthood continue, those with children may be wondering how they can talk to them in age-appropriate ways about the value of life and the reality of abortion.

Someone recently wrote our ministry to ask:

I have four children, ages eight to almost two. At what age is it appropriate to talk to my young children about what's going on at Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinics? Do you have any tips on how to talk to them about this issue?

EPM staff member Karen Coleman provided this great answer:

In Appendix 2 of Why ProLife? Randy gives a list of “Biblical Passages Relevant to Life Issues.” Those would be good passages to talk to your children about, to help them see God’s heart on the issue in a very general but Biblical way.

No one is born pro-abortion, and you can help them grow up knowing how much God is pro-life in every sense of the word. From that list, I would concentrate on the verses in section 5, “God has a special love for children.”

Since the oldest is only eight, you would not want to go into any great detail.  You could say, “There are people who don’t know God and don’t know how much He loves all children. We need to pray for them to come to know Jesus so that they understand His love for even little babies—even babies who aren’t born yet.”  

Your older children may remember when your wife was pregnant with the younger ones. You could use that as a general example, reminding them of the time before your youngest was born. Ask them if they think God loved that child when he or she was in your wife’s womb. They will instinctively know He did! If you want to add more information, you can have slightly different conversations with each of them, since the eight year old can understand much more than the littler ones.

I think you would want to stick to very general terms. They are too young to understand the videos, and might find them quite upsetting. There are many adults who are traumatized by seeing these videos, and you certainly don’t want to go there with your precious children. At their ages, I think they might even be upset by the concept of abortion as you would try to explain it. Many children would not be ready to comprehend more of the details of this issue until they hit junior high.

You and your wife know your children best—how sensitive they are, and how mature they are. You are the best judges of what they can handle, and what they would naturally find disturbing. Ask God for wisdom, and go slowly, speaking in generalities at first. You can always add more detail when you think they are ready, or when they show that by asking more questions.

Another powerful tool to teach children about the value of the unborn is intrauterine pictures (such as these) and ultrasound photographs. In years past, the biggest disadvantage to the preborn child has always been that there’s no window to the womb. But in recent years this has radically changed.

Expecting parents often share ultrasound pictures and video on social media. As you view these with your children, you can talk about how precious and fully human the babies are, and what a miracle that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).

If you know your teenager and their level of sensitivity, they may be able to handle actually seeing a picture or video of an aborted baby, warning them it’s difficult to see, but knowing there’s validity in seeing with their own eyes what an abortion does. It’s similar to responses to the Holocaust: it was just something that happened until people saw actual pictures and realized the atrocities that were committed.

Teach older children and teens to say no to premarital sex. Teenage sexual abstinence is not only psychologically healthy, it’s the only sure way to prevent teen pregnancies. (Josh McDowell’s Why True Love Waits and How to Teach Your Child to Say No to Sexual Pressures, and James Dobson’s Preparing for Adolescence are helpful resources.) We can’t overemphasize the importance and the rewards of sexual purity!

But we should also tell them that regardless of anyone’s opinion about sex outside of marriage, pregnancy is not wrong, even if the act that resulted in pregnancy was. We should never try to cover one sin by committing a greater sin—abortion. Explain to your children that we should love and support women facing unplanned pregnancies, showing them the grace and truth of Jesus.

By teaching and modeling a love for people and children of all ages (see this article for ideas for making a prolife difference), we can pass on a prolife worldview to our children and generations to come.

Your hands shaped me and made me. …you molded me like clay. …You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit. (Job 10:8, 9, 12)

The Biggest Story, a great new book from Kevin DeYoung

Kevin DeYoung has written a delightful new book that both young and old will enjoy. The Biggest Story is a small treatment of a huge theme—God’s drama of redemption, centered on Jesus Christ. Kevin’s words are fresh, engaging, playful, and biblical. Many Bible storybooks offer pearls without a string. This one puts the pearls on a string—the right one. The result is magnificent and memorable.

Here’s more about the book:

Once upon a time there lived a man and a woman. They were the happiest people on the planet. True, they were the only people on the planet, but they were still terrifically happy.

Unfortunately, things didn’t stay happy and wonderful for long . . .

The Bible is full of exciting stories that fill children with awe and wonder. But kids need to know how all those classic stories connect to Scripture’s overarching message about God’s glorious plan to redeem his rebellious people.

In The Biggest Story, Kevin DeYoung—a best-selling author and father of six—leads kids and parents alike on an exciting journey through the Bible, connecting the dots from the garden of Eden to Christ's death on the cross to the new heaven and new earth.

With powerful illustrations by award-winning artist Don Clark, this imaginative retelling of the Bible’s core message—how the Snake Crusher brings us back to the garden—will draw children into the biblical story, teaching them that God's promises are even bigger and better than we think.

Ages 5-8 (read to me)

Ages 8-12 (read to myself)

Check out this excerpt from the book.

Why Are Anti-Judgmental People So Judgmental?

In our postmodern culture, the most quoted and widely recognized verse is not “For God so loved the world,” but “Judge not.” Being judgmental is seen by the world as the cardinal sin, the epitome of hypocrisy that Christians have a corner on.

But it’s not just the world that’s quick to label Christians as “judgmental.” Some Christians are often all too ready to call other believers judgmental.

There’s a growing trend I’ve noticed and have become concerned about: namely, that people who are anti-judgmental are SO judgmental of anyone else they perceive to be passing judgment. One, they’re often wrong; two, they’re just as harsh as those they condemn and continuously assume the worst.

It’s interesting when these attitudes come from people who pride themselves on their tolerance and constantly condemn others for being judgmental. Isn’t calling people hypocrites, when you don’t know them, their heart or their motives, somewhat judgmental?

This subject came to my attention several months back when I shared this on my Facebook page:

We are losing a sense of unique reverence for God. Terms such as “awesome” were once reserved for God, but now describe a good catch, new music download or a tasty corn dog.

Several commenters were quick to assume that I was judging those who used the word “awesome” and trying to make people feel guilty from speaking from their hearts, or they indicated that I was promoting legalism. An EPM staff member and I made clarifying statements in reply to some early comments, but other critical comments came in from those still assuming the post was “judgmental.” (By the way, I welcome comments on my Facebook page from those who disagree with me, as long as they’re respectful of others.)

But unfortunately, this “judgmental about those who are deemed as judgmental” attitude isn’t limited to social media. It transcends to doctrinal beliefs such as hell, in which those who believe what Jesus said in Scripture are accused of not being like Jesus. Meanwhile, those who don’t take Christ’s words about hell seriously commend themselves as being like Jesus. (Since Jesus taught the reality of eternal hell, who are we to think we’re too loving to believe there is such a place? Do we think we’re more loving than Jesus?)

I would encourage everyone to do this: don’t believe the worst, and be slow to label others as “judgmental.” Show respect and treat others with dignity. Above all, please don’t condemn people by presuming you know their motives. James 1:19 puts it this way: “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”

 

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Prolifers Gather to Protest Planned Parenthood

Last Saturday, thousands of prolifers across the nation gathered at rallies in front of Planned Parenthood clinics. I’m grateful for everyone speaking up for the unborn, including John Piper, who shared these reflections from the protest in St. Paul. What he wrote so expresses my heart.

Someone recently asked me, “How does this current wave feel to you compared to what you experienced in the late 1980s?” When I and others, including John, spoke against Planned Parenthood 25 years ago, few listened. I'm grateful the truth is coming out.

Speak out for those who cannot speak,
    for the rights of all the destitute.
Speak out, judge righteously,
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:8-9

Eternal Perspective Ministries staff members Kathy Norquist and Stephanie Anderson, along with Kathy’s husband and two granddaughters, joined the rally in Portland, Oregon. Stephanie shared these thoughts:

I was privileged to be one of 300 plus people who joined a rally in front of the Portland, Oregon Planned Parenthood to protest their harvesting and selling of aborted baby parts. I’d never done anything like this before, but a friend’s invitation and John Piper’s words compelled me to take part. I knew attending a rally isn’t the most I can do to take a prolife stand, but it’s a start.

It was an eye-opening experience. At one point, a middle-aged woman jogged by, cutting a path through the people gathered. She didn’t stop to talk with anyone, but with every step, she rhythmically breathed out, “Choice. Choice.  Choice.” 

The general response from those driving by on the busy downtown street was half positive, half negative. There were a lot of obscene gestures and comments from drivers young and old. But there were also numerous supportive people waving, smiling, and honking their horns.

I was most struck by the contrast between the quiet, prayerful attitude of those at the rally and the demeanor of those mocking us. Watching their faces go by, they appeared angry, offended, sarcastic. I had to remind myself that they’re sinners just like me, and all of us are in desperate need of God’s grace and forgiveness. At least we could pray for them, knowing that it’s always possible for the Lord to touch and change hearts.

Most encouraging was seeing the variety of ages present, including lots of young adults. A friend and I appreciated a shirt that a young man wore. The front said, “Remember Dred,” and, “Am I not a man and a brother?” The back said, “Abolish Roe.” This was especially sobering remembering the horrific Dred Scott decision in 1857 which said that a black individual was not considered a person under the U.S. Constitution.

One young woman at the rally held a hand-drawn sign: “Black Lives Matter—Especially Young Ones.” Numerous African American drivers positively connected with her message, waving and giving her thumbs-up. I watched as a young black man drove by and yelled, “You’re all beautiful! Especially…”—and he pointed specifically to the girl and her sign—“YOU!” I thought her words and their responses were compelling, considering the high percentage of black babies aborted at this clinic, ironically located on a street named in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Another protester held a sign marked with the words, “Let Justice Roll Down.” A friend remarked that it made him think of MLK, who used the phrase “Let justice roll down like water”, a reference to Amos 5:24, in his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”

Yes, Lord, may it be so.

Heaven’s Thrilling, All-Encompassing Worship

Most people know that we’ll worship God in Heaven. But they don’t grasp how thrilling that will be. Multitudes of God’s people—of every nation, tribe, people, and language—will gather to sing praise to God for his greatness, wisdom, power, grace, and mighty work of redemption (Revelation 5:13-14). Overwhelmed by his magnificence, we will fall on our faces in unrestrained happiness and say, “Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (Revelation 7:9-12).

People of the world are always striving to celebrate—they just lack ultimate reasons to celebrate (and therefore find lesser reasons). As Christians, we have those reasons—our relationship with Jesus and the promise of Heaven. “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3). Does this excite you? If it doesn’t, you’re not thinking correctly.

As I share in my book Heaven, I find it ironic that many people stereotype life in Heaven as an interminable church service. Apparently, church attendance has become synonymous with boredom. Yet meeting God—when it truly happens—will be far more exhilarating than a great meal, a poker game, hunting, gardening, mountain climbing, or watching the Super Bowl. Even if it were true (it isn’t) that church services must be dull, there will be no church services in Heaven. The church (Christ’s people) will be there. But there will be no temple, and as far as we know, no services (Revelation21:22).

Will we always be engaged in worship? Yes and no. If we have a narrow view of worship, the answer is no. But if we have a broad view of worship, the answer is yes. As Cornelius Venema explains, worship in Heaven will be all-encompassing: “No legitimate activity of life—whether in marriage, family, business, play, friendship, education, politics, etc.—escapes the claims of Christ’s kingship. . . . Certainly those who live and reign with Christ forever will find the diversity and complexity of their worship of God not less, but richer, in the life to come. Every legitimate activity of new creaturely life will be included within the life of worship of God’s people." [1]

Will we always be on our faces at Christ’s feet, worshiping Him? No, because Scripture says we’ll be doing many other things—living in dwelling places, eating and drinking, reigning with Christ, and working for Him. Scripture depicts people standing, walking, traveling in and out of the city, and gathering at feasts. When doing these things, we won’t be on our faces before Christ. Nevertheless, all that we do will be an act of worship. We’ll enjoy full and unbroken fellowship with Christ. At times this will crescendo into greater heights of praise as we assemble with the multitudes who are also worshiping Him.

Worship involves more than singing and prayer. I often worship God while reading a book, riding a bike, or taking a walk. I’m worshiping him now as I write. Yet too often I’m distracted and fail to acknowledge God along the way. In Heaven, God will always be first in my thinking.

Even now, we’re told, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). That God expects us to do many other things, such as work, rest, and be with our families, shows that we must be able to be joyful, pray, and give thanks while doing other things.

Have you ever spent a day or several hours when you sensed the presence of God as you hiked, worked, gardened, drove, read, or did the dishes? Those are foretastes of Heaven—not because we are doing nothing but worshiping, but because we are worshiping God as we do everything else.

In Heaven, where everyone worships Jesus, no one says, “Now we’re going to sing two hymns, followed by announcements and prayer.” The singing isn’t ritual but spontaneous praise (Revelation 5:11-14). If someone rescued you and your family from terrible harm, especially at great cost to himself, no one would need to tell you, “Better say thank you.” On your own, you would shower Him with praise. Even more will you sing your Savior’s praises and tell of His life-saving deeds!

 

[1] Cornelius P. Venema, The Promise of the Future (Trowbridge, UK: Banner of Truth, 2000), 478.

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