God's Plan for Your Future

By Harold L. Willmington, D.Min.
Dean, Liberty Bible Institute, Forest, Virginia

A popular but totally perverted concept of Heaven would describe that glorious future life in terms of some disembodied spirits piously perched on fleecy clouds strumming their golden harps. This may be Heaven according to some, but New Testament teaching it is not. Scripture would indicate Heaven will be both a place of singing and a place of fellowship: Isaiah 44.23; Hebrews 2.12; Revelation 14.3 and 15.3.

Evidence Heaven will be a concert hall of singing comes from the fact two of Heaven’s greatest songs will have God’s two great works for their theme: the hymn praising God for His mighty work of redemption: Revelation 5.9. But Heaven will also be a place of fellowship. Not only will believers enjoy blessed fellowship with other believers, but even more importantly, we shall know and be known by the Savior in a far more intimate way than ever possible here on earth. Note the things this great chief Shepherd will do for His sheep in Heaven as listed by John: First, He will feed us that hidden heavenly manna and He will give us a new name: Revelation 2.17. Secondly, He will lead us beside the living waters; He will dry all our tears: Revelation 7.17. Then He will allow us to sit with Him on His throne: Revelation 3.21 and finally He will dress us with His own righteousness: Revelation 19.8.

Heaven will be a place of serving: Revelation 7.15 and 22.3. While we cannot be dogmatic on the exact nature of this service, we do know from the following passages a portion of our labor for the Lamb will be exercising authority and judgment over men and angels: 1 Corinthians 6.2-3, 2 Timothy 2.12 and Revelation 22.5.

Finally, Heaven will be a place of learning in the following areas: 1 Corinthians 13.9-10:

We will learn concerning the Person of God. Throughout a timeless eternity, a child of God can learn more about the Creator each year and yet never even remotely exhaust the awesome height, depth or length of the Person of God: Romans 11.33.
We will learn concerning the plan of God. One of the most painful questions asked here on earth by Christians is why a loving and wise God allows certain tragedies. We may rest assured, however, once we understand the reason for all our sufferings and trials, we will repeat the words once stated by a Galilean crowd in Jesus’ day: “He hath done all things well!” Mark 7.37.
We will learn concerning the power of God. “In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth,” Genesis 1.1. The universe is so huge, it takes a beam of light traveling 700 million miles per hour, ten billion years to cross the known universe! Within this universe are untold trillions of stars, planets and other heavenly bodies. God made them all to instruct concerning His power and glory: Psalm 19.1 and 147.4, Isaiah 40.26. Perhaps we shall someday visit each star and explore every corner of our Father’s universe!