Most of human culture maintains the underlying assumption that sin is fun and holiness is dull and uninteresting. If we subscribe to such an idea, we have been misled. Since God knows all things, he knows more about what is fun for us than we do ourselves. He made us. Solomon wrote about God, “Without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Eccl. 2:25).
Paul claimed that the God who works in the believer’s heart “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20). Whatever we envision the pleasures of heaven will be, God can make them immeasurably more than our greatest imagination! “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Ps. 16:11), wrote David, the great king and songwriter.
C. S. Lewis (1898–1963), author of the well-known novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, once said, “Joy is a serious business of heaven.” In another book Lewis described an adult trying to explain to a child that the greatest pleasure on earth is sexual pleasure. The boy thinks that eating chocolates is the greatest pleasure. We are like the boy, unfamiliar with the pleasures of heaven. Lewis commented, “We know the sexual pleasure. We don’t know, except in glimpses, the other thing, which in Heaven, will leave no room for [sexual pleasure in comparison].”
Eternal pleasures! What are the greatest earthly pleasures? Sex? Is that boring? But God created sex. It was his idea, not ours. Eating our favorite food? Is that boring? God created eating. It was his idea, not ours. All earthly pleasures involve our sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste—the five senses. They were all invented by God. They were his creation. They all can be used righteously as well as sinfully. In heaven, we will use all our senses in godly ways in our resurrected bodies. God may even create additional sensory experiences unknown to us on earth. Perhaps we will be able to hear all the pitches that a dog can hear. Our eyes may be able to distinguish more colors, or see at a greater distance. Our tongue may savor astounding flavors now unknown to people.
Mark Twain claimed there would be no humor in heaven. I disagree. Think for a moment of all the strange and funny animals God created such as the ostrich, penguin, giraffe, clown fish, anteater, aardvark, baboon, and more. God made them all. God is the creator of all things, even humor. A careful reading of the Bible uncovers some very humorous comments, mostly on the subtle side. Just a few days after Jesus’ death and resurrection, he appeared to two men on a road leading away from Jerusalem. The two men didn’t recognize Jesus at first. As he conversed with them, one of them asked, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” (Luke 24:18). They were so wrong!
Much of the humor in the Bible is irony. Peter, the well-known apostle of Christ, was given the nickname “Rock” (think “rocky”). But his personality was impetuous, and he tended to say foolish things. Peter told Jesus, “I will lay down my life for you” (John 13:37). Then a few hours later he denied he knew Jesus three times. While cross-examining Jesus, Pilate asked, “What is truth?” (18:38). But Truth was standing right in front of him!
The Old Testament prophet Elijah challenged the prophets of the pagan god Baal to a test. Elijah and the prophets of Baal would each prepare a sacrifice to their god and pray. The god that answered their prayers by lighting a fire from heaven under their sacrifice would be the true god. The prophets of Baal prayed first. When no fire appeared under the sacrifice to Baal, “Elijah began making fun of them. ‘Pray louder!’ he said. ‘Baal must be a god. Maybe he’s day-dreaming or using the toilet or traveling somewhere. Or maybe he’s asleep, and you have to wake him up’ ” (1 Kings 18:27 CEV).
In the Bible we find no record of angels in heaven being bored. God is the author of everything that is fascinating. For one thing, angels are fascinated by all the different aspects of God’s wisdom. “Through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers . . .” (Eph. 3:10 AMP). For all eternity, we too will see more and more of God’s manifold wisdom in sacrificing his Son on the cross for our forgiveness.
Boredom arises from waiting. But there will be no waiting for something better in heaven. Every moment will be the best ever. Make no mistake about it! There will be no dull days in heaven. But if there were, a “dull” day in heaven would be more exciting than the most thrilling day we have ever had on earth.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
Psalm 31:19; 84:11; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 12:3–4; 1 Peter 1:12