It has been said that “the only thing you can’t do in heaven is sin”. That statement, like many other things spoken about God and the Bible, is not exactly right. If sin is not the only thing that will not be done in heaven, then what are the limitations? Many have wondered if they will be able to do their favorite earthly pastime in heaven. Will I be able to cook without worrying about how it will turn out? Will heaven include amazing basketball games? In eternity, will I be able to relax on the beach forever … without getting a sunburn? Although the Bible does not give a complete or exact list of activities we will undertake in heaven, certain things are clear.
In Let the Nations be Glad: The Supremacy of God in Missions, Pastor John Piper provides a helpful thought about something that will not be done in heaven.
Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.’ Worship, therefore, is the fuel and goal of missions. It’s the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white-hot enjoyment of God’s glory. The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God. (2010)
In the above quote, Pastor Piper reasons that missions will be something that is not needed in heaven because the purpose of missions is to gather worshippers.
In the verse from Revelation, John the Apostle records his heavenly vision, giving us a glimpse of what eternity will look like. Though it is an incomplete picture, we can see that people from all nations, tribes and languages will be gathered around the throne and the Lamb. Note the word from. This is a bittersweet word because while it indicates no group of people will be left out of this gathering, it also indicates that not all people will be included in the gathering. In other words, not all people will be born again.
The purpose of this course was to help you become better prepared to engage in the temporary task of missions whether as the one who is sent or as the one who sends. We should be as intentional and effective as possible in helping to gather the lost, so that one day, people from every nation, tribe and tongue will be gathered around the throne. We must be engaged in soul-winning for as long as we can, because at a certain point the end of the age will come and, there will be no more time or opportunity to engage in missions.
Consider the following as you reflect on this week’s devotional:
- How does Revelation 7:9 shape your thinking about missions?
- How does the Piper quote motivate your missions interest?
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