Heaven will not be lame

        Heaven has been given something of a stigma over time. I believe it's been slowly created by Hollywood and the media, and I think people have helped build it up, as well, out of a fear that once you get to heaven all your chances to have fun are over. In the movies and TV shows heaven is depicted, at best, as an eternity of white robes, clouds, harps, and endless choir practice. At worst, it's depicted as a zonked out kumbaya, where we're neutered and lobotomized by holy shock therapy until we wear neurotic grins and float around as transparent lumps of gray, spiritual pudding, strumming our harps, drooling on our shoulders, and mumbling, "Holy, holy, holy," secretly wishing we could return to the good ole days on earth.

        No wonder people think the expression, "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints," is accurate. It's just a load of baloney, though. If you really, truly think that God is just some cosmic killjoy that can't find any other way to use his unlimited power but to make his creations wish for something else, and if you truly feel like you need to get in all your partying and fun finished up down here before you get shipped off to the monastery in heaven to be lobotomized, then consider the following things:

        (1) Satan, the designer of all these sinful things we like so much, looked over at what Jesus was going to exalt us to and was JEALOUS. That's why he tried to rebel against God in the first place (Isaiah 14: 12-15)! Just consider what Satan, with all his power, could give you if he granted you a wish. Consider what he could make for himself. Now picture him looking over at you and pitching a fit after seeing what Jesus was going raise you up to just for believing in him. Satan's idea of fun, the shallow and ultimately deadly joys of sin, can't even come close to the joy Jesus is preparing for us.

(Hebrews 1: 4-5) (Jesus exalted above the angels)
4. Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

(Romans 8: 17) (Jesus makes us joint heirs with him)
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

(Revelation 12: 10) (Satan spends the rest of his days complaining about it)
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

(1st Corinthians 2: 9) (Our human minds can't even imagine heaven)
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

        (2) Jesus had to die because he was paying the death penalty of the covenant we broke with God the Father. The penalty was so heavy because the reward was equally as wonderful. Here's the thing to consider: Jesus collapsed under the weight of that cross (Matthew 27: 32)! The Son of God collapsed under the weight of the penalty; just IMAGINE what the reward of it was. Now consider that the New Covenant Jesus made with God the Father to pay that penalty made the reward even greater! No WONDER Satan was jealous of us. Consider what Satan could do for you right now, with all his power... Now consider that it pales in comparison to what Jesus has exalted you to with his covenant with God the Father. It's unfathomable.

        (3) I don't know what will or will not be in heaven. But I do know one thing ABOUT the things that will or will not be in heaven: The only way something's going to get cut out of heaven is if it's something that God knows would cause us regret one day down the road. Of course, you have to keep in mind that these carnal bodies of ours enjoy a LOT of things that eventually cause us regret, without us realizing it. But, if it won't hurt you, if it's wonderful, God's going to have it in heaven. In fact, there are going to be things there that we haven't even imagined yet and CAN'T imagine.

        Don't be fooled into thinking heaven is going to just be clouds, harps, sunshine, and endless choir practice. If you want that, I'm sure it will be there, somewhere. But no one is going to be longing for the good ole days on earth, and that's not just going to be because we've been spiritually lobotomized by holy lightning until we like what's up there. We will not be zonked into liking heaven; we'll be UNzonked from liking the sin of this dying earth.