One of the most powerful incentives for overcoming a bad habit, or giving sacrificially, or enduring a difficult time is seeing something much better at the end of the tunnel. It was even that way with Jesus.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of ourfaith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Heaven is a powerful incentive, but we use it so very little! To encourage people to be overcomers Jesus gives great inducements (like in Revelation): to eat of the Tree of Life (2:7), to not be hurt of the second death (2:11), to be given power over the nations (2:26), to sit with Christ on His throne (3:21)—to mention a few. But what about the more mundane, life-today type of things? Read on!

So why don’t we give more time to our heavenly home and speak about it more to our neighbors? One of the reasons is that Satan is often more successful in showing us the glory of his kingdom than he was with Christ in the wilderness. When we hear about Christ’s soon coming, do we not immediately think about some temporary pleasure that we would miss and wish His return wouldn’t be quite so soon? Consider this small sampling:

  • an unfinished project we have put a lot of time into
  • a new development on the horizon
    • a baby about to be born
    • a technological advancement that will change the way we do things
    • a house or property we look forward to move into or develop
    • a new medicine to control a devastating disease about to be released
    • a trip to a new place
    • a new exciting relationship begun
    • a new adventure about to be started
    • a new job opportunity that promises a lot and you really feel qualified for
  • some decadent food or other pleasure we enjoy that we believe would not be in the New Earth

Another tactic Satan uses is to make heaven seem insipid and boring. How do artists characterize the New Earth? Even Christian artists?

The typical cartoon version is someone holding a harp standing on a cloud. The more serious artists picture everyone in similar spanking clean white robes, just standing around with smiles on their faces watching little children, also in little white robes, playing with lions.

“That’s it, Folks,” I hear a chuckling, sinister voice whisper in my ear. “Pretty boring, huh?”

I once talked with a young man in his early twenties.. He was planning on joining the army “to enjoy some excitement.” He said he was leaving his Christian training behind because, as he figured it out, after a few thousand years he would have time to see pretty much what heaven had to offer, then, because everything is perfect, there would be no change. Eternity would become very boring. The flowers he picked 2,000 years ago would still be sitting on his golden table looking just as fresh as when he picked them. And playing harps was not his thing. No, he was going to get the most out of life NOW. That was about 15 years ago and the emptiness in his voice still haunts me. Our concepts of heaven are so often distorted by what we think “perfection” is.

  • Perfection does not allow for individual expression or change. So everyone, being perfect, sets the table the same way ALL the time… throughout eternity. They all wear the same pure white garments (with no other colors to express individuality). The perfect strawberry or apple will always taste the same… forever. How can one improve on perfect?
  • Learning will not be a challenge anymore because you are already “perfect”. Anything you try you will be able to do hardly without an effort and certainly without a flaw. So games are out, because everyone would always get perfect scores. There would be no losers
  • Vacations lose their luster because what would be the need? You will be on an eternal vacation (no responsibilities, no cares).
  • The challenges of life are now gone. Your brain is energized beyond belief. Your body is like the strength of angels. You will never tire.
  • Time flows on without change or end, as day without night or year without seasons. The skies have no clouds. The gardens have no weeds. Everyone always wears the same smile and greets you with the same expression. Always!
  • And besides, where could you go to play in the snow?

Such thoughts come from a mind much smaller and less imaginative than God’s. The loving Creator encourages us to consider our heavenly home, not to be afraid to imagine what life would be like there, for, He tells us with a big smile, that it will be even better than that!

1Co 2:9 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 who love him.

Relationships are very important. Hopefully the greatest attraction would be to see our heavenly family face to face as well as our loved ones and good friends again (and maybe even our favorite pets). But what after that? There is more to life than holding hands all day long, or playing “Fetch” with Fido. Are we back to sterile white robes and harps again? I would like to suggest some things about the eternal world that have entered my little mind—some generated by scriptures, some by natural observations and scientific developments, and some by other imaginative minds, but all possible to envision. Why? Because we have a loving, creative, playful, and sometimes indulgent heavenly Father and Elder Brother who know no limits in doing something for and with us. Just look at the luxurious carpet of tiny flowers crushed under our bare feet as we walk through meadows today. Listen to the happy chirps and songs of birds filling the trees and bushes along the way. Watch squirrels play tag in the trees. And that’s on this earth, NOW, when sin still reigns. Yes, the heavenly family have many things and surprises in store for us. The possibilities below are only intended to inspire your imagination. If my mortal brain can come up with fun and exciting ideas, how much more could an omnipotent and all-knowing and loving God-family do? But before I start I want you to think of our world when it was first created. It was perfect, as were Adam and Eve. If they had never sinned, nor anyone else, wouldn’t that perfect Eden home still be with us today? What would it have looked like 6,000 years later? What occupations would the happy inhabitants have? That is the imagined model I am using below, with a few exceptions (because God will have elevated us higher than were the first couple, so we would have more to work with and, consequently, more to do). CREATION (my most recent concept).

When I was in grade school my highschool brother, Roger, challenged me and some kids in our neighborhood to draw a line—any kind of line—but only one. As soon as we took our pencil off the paper that completed our “line”. Then we were to say what we wanted him to make out of it. No matter how complicated our “line” was and how challenging our creature, he would be able to draw it. If my artistically gifted teenage brother could turn our scribbles into something recognizable, surely our Omniscient Creator can put life to drawings and ideas. Besides, it keeps Him busy too. 🙂

I believe God does not have an ego problem that needs bolstering. The universe is not one grand stadium filled with intelligent creatures of all kinds, and all looking down on the playing field and applauding as the Creator builds a new world all by Himself, or reveals His latest animal or plant creation.

No. God gets His greatest thrill by working THROUGH His creation, not FOR it, involving them and letting them get some credit and thrill in participation. It certainly is that way in the Plan of Salvation! God or angels could do a much better and faster job than humans, yet the divine family has chosen to use people as Their direct medium to share the gospel—even though it takes longer and requires more “work” on Their part (to correct our bumblings).

So it really didn’t take much for me to imagine God telling the intelligent beings already in existence about a new planet He was planning on building (our earth) and asking them for “ideas”.

“What are your favorite things or would you like to see different? Don’t worry about how to do it. Just give me some ideas. I’ll figure out how to incorporate them,” I imagine the Creator saying with a big smile.

This would get the creative juices flowing in many minds. Some like flowers, so they draw out some pretty ones, maybe inspired by some they have seen elsewhere. Others prefer animals. Others like detail, so they wonder about making single celled creatures do big things, or make things work without brains, or breathe without air, or fly without wings. The intelligent beings of all caliber would participate in this exciting adventure.

After some time the Creator smiles and says,

“I believe I have enough ideas for this world now. I will need to make them so they can work in both perfect and possibly imperfect situations, so it will take a little time to put this all together. But when it is done you look to see if you can find your special creation.”

“Imperfect situations”? Absolutely! Just look at our earth before He started reforming it. Being “without form and void” doesn’t sound very perfect to me! And check out the word Moses used for “darkness” in Genesis 1:2 (figuratively misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness). There were other less sinister words he could have used. It really looks like there was an evil power that tried to really mess things up. Jeremiah 4:23 tells us our earth will again be reduced to a “without form and void” condition near the close of the great controversy between good and evil.

Speaking about creations, some day God might even approach some of the brighter minds with a challenge like “fixing” Venus or Mars for habitation, or other such worlds. Now that would take some time and study—perhaps even a team!

I am eager to see who came up with the very simple flower I saw recently. It looked like a young person thought of it—so pure and childlike. And the anglerfish where the tiny male attaches to the larger female and literally becomes “one flesh” as a parasite for the rest of its life. Was that a female’s idea? lol And who figured out the friendly dolphins?

Needless to say, this has certainly gotten some creative juices going in me! I can hardly wait to “get involved.” And my scientific bent wonders how God will make those giant pearly gates without the oyster?

THE NEW JERUSALEM (A CITY)

I have wondered what this new city would have in it. No hospitals, emergency rooms, jails, police stations, service stations, repair shops, janitor services, office supply shops, or a hundred other things. So what COULD be there in that magnificent city, the capital of the universe? Here are some ideas:

~ a Nature Museum that would display unique things from the many planets throughout God’s vast universe, and indicate which planet it came from. That would be a challenge to try to find it!

~ a Real Estate Center that could display the many different types of planets (cold ones, hot ones, watery ones, gaseous ones, all uninhabitable) and be up for “grabs” to those teams who would like to convert them into a beautiful masterpiece for God’s glory. It would certainly do that because even the greatest of minds and the most skilled craftsmen and women would still need to spend quality time with the Father or Son for counsel and help.

~ a music conservatory in which programs would be given every new moon when we all gather together. This could include vocals, instrumentals, and even more challenging tasks like trained birds or different creatures, all “singing” to the glory of God. You’ll never know what will be featured each month. And it will take some practicing, too.

~ also at this conservatory (or maybe in the university) will be instructors to help us learn new ways to sing or instruments to play, or how to make those instruments.

~ a science library where we can delve into the many natural mysteries of our very imaginative Father/Son Creator team. For those who love such resources this will be like candy to a child.

~ the Tree of Life, of course, will be there. But I believe the “12 manner of fruits” that it yields every month, will always be different each month, and, like the museum, could feature fruit from a particular planet that month. That will certainly acquaint us with many different foods throughout His realm.

~ a science university where we can sit at the feet of our Creator/Brother and learn more about our wonderful God and His universe, or any subject of our choice (available that month, of course).

~ a planetarium like we have never seen before.

~ Then there is the Bible University where Christ will reveal some of the secrets and mysteries recorded in His Word. This shall be our study throughout eternity. Not just to understand redemption, but also the principles which govern His universe. Only then will we be able to understand why God included what He did, like Numbers, and all those details and stories in other places which we found so little purpose during our earthly life. Only then, after being remade in the image of God, will we be able to plumb the mysteries God placed in His word, mysteries that will provide us clues for answers throughout eternity.

~ Also at the school will be an industrial education department where we can learn new crafts as well as see models and demonstrations of new tools to probe or construct with.

~ There will also be an agricultural department to plumb the unique ways to grow foods under many different conditions. More about this below.

~ Then there will also be the social center, a beautiful park strewn with comfortable benches where people from all over the world and universe will be able to gather and share stories and experiences. This will probably be the most favorite part of the city.

~ Oh, one more thing that would probably be in the Social Center– a large bulletin board where we can request help for different types of needs or projects, or special skills we have been given or developed and are willing to help out as needed (and how to get in touch with us, of course). Also on this bulletin board can be a travel center—places to see or visit, and reasons why we might want to.

TIMES AND SEASONS

Isa 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. (23) And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

Yes, time will be measured in the new earth. At least two systems will be used to announce certain gatherings: a recurring weekly 7-day Sabbath, and a monthly (30 day?) New Moon cycle. And when they happen to come on the same day, you can be sure there will be special surprises (like the Jubilees of old times). But it won’t happen often!

In the sanctuary there are two coverings of different widths, but both have 50 unique clasps (taches) to join two sections that make up each covering. You can read more about these here. The inner curtain (28 cubits wide) uses golden taches and the one directly above it (30 cubits wide) uses brass clasps. What’s unique about these two curtains is that the 100 taches never touch each other, and God uses their placement to determine very special events involving the Godhead with humanity. Just what those may be I don’t have a clue, but we do know they will affect our lives in positive ways because they did on this earth.

I wonder why God wants us to gather together on New Moons? Scientifically, that’s when the moon reflects NO light during the night. Biblically, the first sighting of the faintest sliver of moon is called the crescent new moon (the evidence that the New Moon has already happened). I imagine it may be because He wants to show us some awesome night time shows that we just can’t appreciate during the day (when the moon is as bright as our sun and the sun is seven times brighter). We think the Aurora Borealis or fireworks are breathtaking. Remember, we have a very creative God and He loves to surprise His children. I can hardly wait! And that’s EVERY MONTH throughout eternity!

Seasons? Absolutely. In some way, as our earth turns on its axis and moves about the sun, we will experience different changes of climate, different length of days, different temperatures, and these will challenge us to adapt, as it does on our present earth–but not in the same way, of course.

“Oh, but the climate will be always the same,” someone quips. Really? When God made our perfect world we are told in Genesis 1:14 that the sun and moon were to be for times, and SEASONS, for days and years. I don’t see why it should be any different in the new earth. What would seasons be then if everything was supposed to remain the same? Do we have seasons now? Why? I suspect the breaking up of the firmament during the Flood would have greatly exaggerated temperatures, but not caused seasons. They were already happening, according to Genesis 2.

God loves variety, and I’m certain it will be no different on the New Earth with times and seasons.

AGRICULTURE

How we grow things in the New Earth will be much different than our current approach. There will be no weeds to encumber the ground, at least as we know weeds today, yet I suspect there will be bugs. In our present world the bugs feed on plants that are deficient in certain minerals, that are not really fit for human consumption. Though I don’t see the New Earth being “deficient” as we know today, I can imagine there will be different kinds of soils that would produce different qualities of flowers and plants and their edible portions. When we see certain bugs on our plants we will learn why they are there and how to modify the growing media to accomplish the kind of flower or fruit we want. Some “bug visits” we will be happy for. And the others? Well, I don’t know yet. 🙂

In the university, and perhaps in other places and times, we will learn how to train our plants to do what we wish. Some “training” may be by companion planting, others by mineral and gem influences, others by certain qualities of bird and insect sounds, or other ways we have not yet a clue today. So our gardens will always be unique, for they will not only be a showpiece of color and form, but also of sounds and flavors. It will be a rare thing to have all strawberries taste the same. Oh, they will always taste like strawberries, but nuances of flavor will always excite the palate, and we will ever be learning how those flavors can be achieved. Always!

I imagine going to a friend’s garden and he picks a huge strawberry shaped like a heart and hands it to me.

“Taste it,” he says.

I do and find it tastes like it is covered with a mint chocolate.

“How did you get THAT flavor?” I exclaim.

He smiles and says,

“That’s my secret. See if you can figure it out.”

So I look more closely at his strawberries and see he has planted in special containers some M. balsamea Willd, which I knew on earth as “chocolate mint”.

“Ah,” I say, “I see you have some chocolate mint growing among your strawberries. You wisely put them in containers so they wouldn’t take over your whole garden. But how did you transfer the flavor of the mint to the strawberries? They don’t usually mix.”

He smiles again and replies,

“I did some research at the University in Jerusalem and learned a special trick.”

And that’s all he would tell me. We never talked about the heart-shape. I suppose he learned that also at the University. Looks like I have some studying to do!

Yes, there will be much to learn on growing things. I especially want to find out how to grow transparent flowers!

OUR BODIES AND MINDS

Though we will always retain our flesh and bone characteristics, yet there will be differences in our immortal bodies.

One will be how we see things. Because everything will be brighter then (the moon as bright as our sun and the sun seven times brighter) we will have more cones in our eyes. (Cones are the visual receptors that perceive color and allow for distinct or clear vision.) This means that we will have a greater area of focus and clarity than we now enjoy. This will be helpful when we travel, for our new rates of speed will require us to see further and broader (to avoid running into things).

We will still need our rods, however. Those are the visual receptors for low light conditions. These will come in handy during New Moon periods (the time when our earth does not have the light of sun or moon). These will be very special seasons, and times when others in the universe will want to visit our special planet, for only then can we behold the glory of the heavens in ways daylight doesn’t allow.

I suspect our Creator will also entrust us with some new (to us) ways to perceive the worlds about us— with something like sonar hearing, or ultraviolet (UV) vision. These will be especially helpful during those times and places where visible light as we know it today will not be available (like deep sea explorations or checking out places where light is not available in the universe because of dark matter or some other light-absorbing substance, or just the absence of stars–because of clouds).

We will also be clothed in garments of light, as were the first couple before they sinned. These garments will be as unique as our personalities and will change according to our moods, as they do with certain sea creatures that use light on their skin to communicate. As we approach other people they will quickly recognize us a long way off by our unique “garment”, but will also know if we are especially excited about something or have a question. It will show not just “on our face” but on our whole being. We will also be able to use our light garments to explore the natural world as Adam did, discovering many secrets within.

“He that is faithful in that which is least will be faithful also in much.” Our pleasure centers will be expanded in quality as well as quantity. I don’t have a clue how this may be manifested, but I know “pleasures forevermore” will not be less than we now enjoy.

One possibility that really excites me is found in Isaiah 65:21-22, where it says we shall build houses and inhabit them, houses that another won’t inhabit because they cannot. This doesn’t appear to be speaking just of houses like we make today, but special houses. A “house” in the Bible can mean a variety of things, but the one that is most intriguing is what Jesus said. “Destroy this temple (house) and in 3 days I will raise it up.” But it goes on to say that the “temple” He spoke of was His physical body! So I see we may have the possibility of ”building” physical body houses for ourselves. Using a modern term, we might call that “cloning”–an exact replica of the parent for there will be no other donor. How this could be I do not know, but the possibility is there because we can see it in our world today with other creatures. Having a second, or perhaps even a third self will allow us to do many more things (as only eternity will demand). And being a part of ourselves, we will always be aware of what our other “part” is doing and thinking—sort of like Siamese twins experience here on this earth. Only with glorified bodies and minds would we be able to surround such an awesome feature.

There is a feature that we currently have that I suspect will be continued on the other side: different gifts or powers. It is our differences that make life so intriguing, interesting, and special. In heaven, for that is sometimes what we call the New Earth, our greatest joy will be in serving others. What would be the need to serve if everyone had the same powers and abilities? Adam and Eve were created a “little lower than the angels,” but in our redeemed and restored state we will be above even the angels, being adopted as sons and daughters of God. Some will even share positions on His throne. What this means is that the redeemed will always be in demand for the rest of creation will need services only we (and the Godhead) can provide. It’s really humbling, but God had arranged for that.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,… goodness,…

Though we know these four fruits are eternal there are five other ones that are just as eternal,,, and needed. Some might think that in heaven everything will always work out as we would like, that we will never experience disappointment. That is just not the case. We will also have disappointment in the New Earth, though depression will never arise from our not getting what we want. We will know that “Father knows best” and be content to divert our focus elsewhere for the time. Disappointments will only cause us to seek new routes, learn new things, experience unsuspected joys elsewhere, make new friends, or try harder next time. They will never bring sorrow or grief.

Faith— Yes, we will still need faith in the New Earth, for there will be things we won’t understand yet and will need to submit to God’s will, just as the angels had to do when Jesus was suffering so much in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross.

Longsuffering— This is forbearance, patience, a very necessary fruit when dealing with those whose temperament or mental processes are different or than our own. God has living creatures of all kinds, even intelligent creatures, but mankind is the only one made in His likeness. Yes, forbearance is not just needed on this earth. It is needed wherever there is a difference, and especially when the difference is below our capabilities.

Gentleness— This is a fruit to be used for intelligent beings. It is not just for transplanting new seedlings into the garden or transferring eggs to the kitchen. This is for those whose spirits are yet tender, undeveloped, inexperienced. And there will always be those needing our gentle touch.

Meekness— Meekness is a characteristic of those who have power but submit that power to yet higher powers of reason and self control. We are told it is the meek who will inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5). Moses and Christ are the top examples of meekness in the Bible. They both had power to do whatever they wanted, but they submitted that to the will of the Father.

Moses? Yes. This became apparent only once in Biblical history—just before he died. The people were getting ready to enter the Promised Land, but they had no water (again) and started complaining as before. God told Moses to take the rod, but just speak to the rock and it would provide all that was needed for the thirsty travelers. But Moses did his OWN THING. Read what happened:

Num 20:10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? (11) And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

God was not happy with His servant. He misused his power.

(12) And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

This will not happen in the New Earth, though. We will have learned our lessons of self-dependence, and will always submit to God’s will as Jesus did on this earth, even though our powers will be great.

Temperance— This is perhaps one of the fruits that is most difficult to understand in a perfect universe. Why would we need it? Because in abundance there will always be need for self-control, even when everything is so good. This will not be just for foods and drinks, but also for work, study, and service. There will be limits just as there were for the great oceans during creation. It’s the willingness to let God be ruler of all, to submit to His authority and will, that makes the universe run so smoothly throughout eternity. He will give us our “time in the sun” at the right times, but it won’t go to our head to puff us up. When we make choices we will always know what balance is best and just how far we should go.

These fruits will be natural to us in heaven. There won’t be a struggle anymore. For we will find it our joy to use them to bless everyone and everything around us, just like the heavenly Family does.

Angels, however, will have abilities we won’t have, being spirits, for they won’t be encumbered with “flesh and blood” as we will have. So they can “pass through” things we wouldn’t be able to, and do other things we couldn’t. They are very strong and can fly at much faster speeds than we. So it will always be good to have some angel friends around to help out at special times (like carrying us at light speed (or faster) different places, or checking out what is on the other side of a solid wall) Yes, we will still retain our curiosity.

And if you think Facebook is fun here, wait ’till you see what is in store in heaven! All heaven is relationship centered (not self-centered) and based on social interchange and interdependence, for there we will all be one big happy family. But we will have ways and means to stay connected, though we may physically be light years apart. Even now beings on other planets can watch what we are doing down here. We just can’t “watch” back currently.

OTHER WORLDS

Yes, we know there is life on “other worlds,” and those will be a constant source of enjoyment, discovery and awe to us throughout eternity. They will have lots of questions for us, as well as needs. Because we will be elevated above the angels, and have such a close relation to the Father and Son, being able to reign with Christ on His throne even, we will have special privileges of service even the angels won’t have. So we will always be in demand.

But there are other planets and systems we will want to explore as well, those with no life forms on them as of yet. Sometimes it will be because of certain resources the Creator has stored on them to help us on the inhabited worlds (perhaps special gems or minerals or power sources not available elsewhere). Or there just may be some beauty or natural phenomena unknown elsewhere, like a snow or ice planet, or a very dense planet that makes us feel much heavier and harder to move around. Of course it wouldn’t affect the angels since they are spirits, so we would want to have at least one of them with us to explore the nuances of gravity or play gravity games.

Whatever, the Creator will have many surprises throughout His vast realm, and eternity will not exhaust His ability to surprise and entertain and challenge us.

WORK

We must not think of heaven as an eternal vacation, for there will be much work to do. Work is a blessing and often calls forth the best of our strengths, thoughts, and imaginations. Also being in the highest position of any created being, we will often be called to the greatest service. However, it will not be to heal or repair, but rather to enhance or instruct.

One type of employment will be in growing our own food. This will not be a drudgery as it can be on this earth with poor, unresponsive soils, aggressive weeds, unpredictable climate changes, insect and diseases rampant, and creatures with voracious appetites eager to get their fill. No no. Gardening in the New Earth will be pleasant and exciting for time in the garden will be a two-way experience. Somehow, through ways we know not now, we will be able to hold converse with the plants, learning their secrets for how to enhance their flavors and colors and nutritional qualities. We may also be able to introduce some new (approved) fruit or flower of our own creation, if the Lord would be pleased to share with us some of His creative secrets.

But gardening won’t be the only occupation. I figure if sin had never happened on this earth it would have continued something like the New Earth might. There will be craftsmen and artists of all kinds, for we will need pots and furniture and instruments and jewelers and many other devices to help us in our daily activities. Unless we build our houses and cities out of just growing things (vines, trees, flowers, and shrubs) which idea I find interesting but rather narrow, considering how creative God is, we will need some kind of building materials. And what about roads? If the New Jerusalem will need roads, I suspect the country will too. But I doubt gold will be the only building material. Yes, I see all kinds of industries needed, even in a perfect world.

What are the strings made of in the harps? Are they living or inorganic? If pure gold, how do they treat the gold to have elasticity (a feature not known on this earth for gold)?

What about that table we will eat at that is miles in length? Though our eyes can traverse its length, how do we get a food or condiment that we see miles down the table? Perhaps we can just ask for it, but I imagine there will be someone who will figure out how to move things quickly by some ingenious methods.

The garden of Eden God grew in less than a day (it looks like He made it after He made Adam—Genesis 2:7-8), and when Jonah needed some shade the merciful Creator had a gourd grow next to him, probably just in a few minutes (Jonah 4:6). Yes, there will be need for labor and time-saving devices, for time will still be a factor in our work. The fact that we have an eternity ahead of us will not mean we can take our time for Sabbaths are coming and New Moons are always ahead of us, requiring preparation and readiness, especially if we have part in special features.

Would we be making things out of wood or other living things? Perhaps, unless our Elder Brother has figured out other organic material we can use that’s made from plants or living creatures, but not “living”, like how oysters make pearls, worms make silk, or sea creatures make coral. Still, harvesting these to use in building houses or furniture or other useful material will be employment for someone. And it will take a craftsman to know how to handle them (like it does for jewelers to turn raw diamonds into beautiful crystals).

God’s creations (at least as we know them) have always been based on inequalities and interdependence. Happiness comes in serving others, not in being served, as Jesus said (Matt 20:28). We can go on and on about the possibilities of happy, rewarding, inspiring, fulfilling service in the New Earth. I believe the Godhead knew what they were doing when they decided they needed an eternity in order to accomplish their plans for us.

“And the years of eternity, as they roll, will bring richer and still more glorious revelations of God and of Christ. As knowledge is progressive, so will love, reverence, and happiness increase. The more men learn of God, the greater will be their admiration of His character. As Jesus opens before them the riches of redemption and the amazing achievements in the great controversy with Satan, the hearts of the ransomed thrill with more fervent devotion, and with more rapturous joy they sweep the harps of gold; and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of voices unite to swell the mighty chorus of praise. {GC 678.1}

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I realize much of this is fanciful thinking, but how can God fulfill His promise to outdo those things that have entered into the heart of man if we never give eternity even a chance in our thoughts? That wouldn’t be much of a challenge now, would it? The point is, eternity with God will be awesome—even better than we can imagine!

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them who love him. 1Co 2:9

It would do well if we give our new home some more thought. Maybe others would like to go too.