Will eternity be one long praise session?

How often do you talk about eternity with your children?

My guess is, a lot of people don’t. In fact, I’m not sure we talk about it that much at church. Sure, we’ll mention ‘heaven’ and ‘going to be with Jesus’, but when was the last time you heard what that meant?

I was talking with an adult the other week who said that his wife was really not looking forward to eternity, because she had been told we’ll be worshipping God forever. Now of course, she doesn’t have anything against worshipping God! But in so many of our minds ‘worshipping’ means a sung praise session.

And frankly, I can’t think of anything worse for eternity.

And thankfully, I don’t think that’s what eternity is about.

Grounding eternity

We don’t need to do much to ground our idea of eternity, because it’s literally what God does.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people…” (Revelation 21:1-3).

Our eternity isn’t actually in ‘heaven’. A new heaven comes down to a new earth

Our eternity isn’t actually in ‘heaven’. A new heaven comes down to a new earth. This, and the language of a ‘new Jerusalem’ is another way of saying that God comes down to earth. Heaven and Earth are joined. He lives with his people. All the imagery through the Old Testament, from God walking in the Garden, to the Tabernacle being in the middle of the Israelite encampment, to the presence of God coming down on the Temple in Jerusalem - it was all pointing forward to the day when God would permanently live among his people.

But what will that be like? Are we back to gathering round the throne singing the CCLI top 10 songs forever? How can we know what it’s like when God lives among his people?

We can know what it’s like, because he’s already done it.

When God last lived among his people sickness was banished, evil fled, the dead were raised, mourning was turned to laughter.

If this isn’t embodied enough, the description of the new heaven on the new earth in Revelation 21 and 22 has echoes of Eden - a place

You see, the life of Jesus on earth wasn’t just about getting to the cross (though that was obviously central!) It was also about giving a glimpse of eternity.

Revelation 21 again (v4):

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

This is what happens when God lives among his people! With the first coming it was only a glimpse. Lazarus was raised from the dead, but he didn’t enjoy a resurrected body - he died again. But when God comes to live with his people forever then death and sadness and pain will be banished forever.

I think there is more we can draw from that first time God lived among his people. For one thing, people saw him face to face, and we’re promised the same in Revelation 22:4. But also, it wasn’t a 3-year praise session. People did praise Jesus. They did bow the knee to him. But they also partied with him, ate with him, laughed with him, walked with him.

Read more:

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What is more, this didn’t change when Jesus was raised from the dead and had a resurrected body (which he still has). He still eats and talks and laughs and tells stories. Why would that change when we are all enjoying resurrected bodies with Christ?

If this isn’t embodied enough, the description of the new heaven on the new earth in Revelation 21 and 22 has echoes of Eden - a place. There are rivers and trees. Yes, the hold symbolic significance, but if the first very good earth had all these things in reality, why would the new earth be devoid of them?

I can’t convey how excited I am about the new creation. I live on the edge of the Quantocks in Somerset. Behind our house in the hills roam wild horses. I stop the car every time I drive over the hill just to look at the beauty of the young foals. In the new creation I’m going to get to enjoy this and so much more. I’m going to go walking in hills and mountains. I’m going to explore continents and oceans. I’m going to learn and discover and create. I’m going to write music and play sport. And no doubt there’ll be plenty of singing with the rest of God’s people from every tribe, language, nation and tongue.

But get this… I’m going to gaze at sunsets and turn round and see the one who made them, gazing at them with me with a broad smile, enjoying us enjoying what he has made. And I’m going to look up into his face and say, ‘thank you’.

That’s the eternal worship session I’m looking forward to.

Practical things you can do as a family.

• Ask your children what they imagine being with Jesus will be like.
• Talk about the things they most love about this world, and the things that are worst about this world.
• Read Revelation 21 and 22 and talk about how God will be getting rid of all the worst things and making all the best things even better.
• Talk together about what you’re most looking forward to in the new heaven on the new earth.

Songs you could sing or listen to (some for grown-ups some for the kids)