them over and over— because we will no longer inhabit aging bodies that grow tired or live in a sin-infected world that makes life tedious. In that“ place called heaven” we will enjoy an“ excess of life.” We’ ll be like children saying to our heavenly Father,“ Do it again!”
3. Heaven will be one long church service— While worshiping God will be a central activity in heaven, it will not be our only activity. Just as Christians today can offer praise to God while engaging in other tasks throughout the week, Christians in the new heaven and new earth will worship God during special, designated times as well as while involved in other activities.
Kelinda: There’ s an old saying:“ He’ s so heavenly-minded that he’ s no earthly good.” Would you share with us your thoughts on that adage?
Dr. Jeffress: We’ ve all heard this old cliché, and some people use the idea to justify focusing their efforts and affections solely on this world— deluding themselves into thinking such a limited perspective is actually a virtue. Like the foolish farmer who acted as if he would live forever, these people fail to realize the brevity of this life and the length of eternity.
But here is the great irony: the more we think about the next world, the more effective we become in this world.
The realization that we are headed to a new location called“ heaven” should be great motivation for us to spend our limited time on earth productively. No need to be concerned about piling up a large amount of money— we’ ll leave it all behind when we depart. No reason to be fixated on what other people do to us or think about us— our calling to our new location is assured. Instead, grasping the reality of that“ place called heaven” that awaits us should liberate us to invest our few remaining years on earth as wisely as possible.
Kelinda: There are some books, already on the market, written about Near-Death Experiences, some of which involve visits to heaven. Do you believe these are actual visits?
Dr. Jeffress: The popularity of these NDE books goes beyond our natural curiosity about the unknown. Implanted deep inside each of us is a longing for this“ place called heaven.” While there is much to love about earth— its people and places— we instinctively know there must be something more, something better. King Solomon wrote that God has“ set eternity in [ our ] heart”
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