Blog Detail

On ‘What’s there to do in Heaven?’ (Contemporary English Version Bible used here.)

First, let’s read through the Apostle Paul’s writings in… Philippians 3:14-21.

— This quiz is to help anyone who is confused about a Christian’s life after death… (Circle the correct answer)

(In Philippians 3:14-15)… I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.  (15)  All of us who are mature should think in this same way. And if any of you think differently, God will make it clear to you.

— Q1. What is the prize that all mature Christians should be seeking to win?

a/ Winning the lottery.     b/ Becoming a famous athlete.     c/ Being called by God to heaven.

(Vs.16-17)… But we must keep going in the direction that we are now headed.  (17)  My friends, I want you to follow my example and learn from others who closely follow the example we set for you.

— Q2. What is the prize that all mature Christians should be seeking to win?

a/ Winning the lottery.     b/ Becoming a famous athlete.     c/ Being called by God to heaven.

(Vs.18-19) I often warned you that many people are living as enemies of the cross of Christ. And now with tears in my eyes, I warn you again  (19)  that they are headed for hell! They worship their stomachs and brag about the disgusting things they do. All they can think about are the things of this world.

— Q3. Here Paul tells us of a difference that MUST exist between believers and non-believers…
What does he tell us that non-believers have their minds set on?

a/ Worldly appetites.     b/ Self indulgent pleasure.     c/ Both a/ & b/.

(Vs.20-21)… But we are citizens of heaven and are eagerly waiting for our Savior to come from there. Our Lord Jesus Christ (21) has power over everything, and he will make these poor bodies of ours like his own glorious body.

— Q4. Here Paul writes that through our Savior Jesus, believers are different because we…

a/ know how to party.     b/ have a different citizenship.     c/ chase after less expensive pleasures.

This eternal citizenship causes Christians to look forward to Heaven and the New Earth.

The next questions explore this radically different citizenship of Heaven…

Jesus teaches us to pray in Matthew 6:9-10… You should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, help us to honor your name. (10) Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth will obey you, as you are obeyed in heaven. 

— Q5. Here we are told that things in heaven are done in accordance to…

a/ the O.T. Law of Moses.     b/ God’s will.     c/ our imaginations.

In Matthew 7:21, Jesus also tells us, “Not everyone who calls me their Lord will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who obey my Father in heaven will get in.”

— Q6. This shows us that to enter Heaven we must…

a/ have been obedient to God’s will.     b/ be party-hardy people.     c/ have free entrance.

And in Mark 12:23-25 Jesus answers a question about life in Heaven... (They asked Jesus about a woman who had been many times widowed and remarried.) “When God raises people from death, whose wife will this woman be? After all, she had been married to all seven brothers.”  (24)  Jesus answered: “You are completely wrong! You don’t know what the Scriptures teach. And you don’t know anything about the power of God.  (25)  When God raises people to life, they won’t marry. They will be like the angels in heaven.”

— Q7. Jesus states clearly here that life in Heaven, our new eternal life…

a/ continues our earthly existence.     b/ is different from here on earth.     c/ is really boring.

(Quiz continued on Pg.#2)

On ‘What’s there to do in Heaven?’ (Pg.#2)

Also in Mark 10:20-21, We find Jesus teaching a law-abiding rich young man… The man answered, “Teacher, I have obeyed all these commandments since I was a young man.”  (21)  Jesus looked closely at the man. He liked him and said, “There’s one thing you still need to do. Go sell everything you own. Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come with me.”

— Q8. We can understand from this and other of Jesus’ teachings, that in Heaven…

a/ we all have lots of money.     b/ we have golden treasures.     c/ generosity and service rule in Heaven.

We read in John 4:23-24 that Jesus also told us, “ But a time is coming, and it is already here! Even now the true worshipers are being led by the Spirit to worship the Father according to the truth. These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him.  (24)  God is Spirit, and those who worship God must be led by the Spirit to worship him according to the truth.”

— Q9. In this, we can understand that God is looking for us to _________ ______ in Heaven.

a/ pursue pleasure     b/ worship Him     c/ weep inconsolably

Also, God states in Isaiah 65:17, “I am creating new heavens and a new earth; everything of the past will be forgotten.”

— Q10. In this, we understand that God will erase all our _________ ____ ______ in Heaven.

a/ sorrow and grief     b/ memories of sin     c/ both a/ & b/

In 2^nd Peter 3:9, we find out more about Heaven… The Lord isn’t slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.

— Q11. Here we read why God is taking so long to bring about an end to this sin-filled world.
…It is because God wants…

a/ to make us suffer.     b/ to see what we will do.     c/ to wait for everyone who will turn to Him, to be saved.

Reading further in 2^nd Peter 3:13… But God has promised us a new heaven and a ____ _____, where justice will rule. We are really looking forward to that! (Fill in the blanks)

— Q12. As in Isaiah 65:17, here Peter writes of God promising us a new heaven and a _____ _______.

a/ certain Apostle     b/ new earth     c/ special church

To close we look back to Isaiah 11:6-9, where we read… Leopards will lie down with young goats, and wolves will rest with lambs. Calves and lions will eat together and be cared for by little children.  (7)  Cows and bears will share the same pasture; their young will rest side by side. Lions and oxen will both eat straw.  (8)  Little children will play near snake holes. They will stick their hands into dens of poisonous snakes and never be hurt.  (9)  Nothing harmful will take place on the LORD’s holy mountain. Just as water fills the sea, the land will be filled with people who know and honor the LORD.

This is a glimpse at what God’s will is for the future of His creation.
It may well be describing the reign of Jesus on the earth for the 1000 years before the final judgement.
– However, it gives us a good idea of what God has instore for us in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Something to think about: Choose from this list what you want to find in the New Heaven and the New Earth…

O – everything made new     O – complete peace and harmony     O – everything made beautiful

O – an end to death and killing     O – joy in serving each other

O – worshipping God and Jesus on their thrones (SEE Revelations 22:3-4)

O – to be praising God in our living, and fellowshipping with one another.     O – All of these.

— If you wonder what you could possibly enjoy doing there forever, the answer is – All of these.
(I hope to see you there! …KK.) …end Pg.#2

____________________

(Click here for PDF copy Pg.#1)

(Click here for PDF copy Pg.#2)