Heaven--How Do You View It?

I've been doing some research and reading recently about Heaven while working on a chapter for a book I am writing and I am amazed at the very prevalent attitude and perceptions among the "Christian" world of what Heaven will be like. I have read a number of quotes from people who have the erroneous idea that all we will do in Heaven is sit around on clouds playing harps and being bored in some vapor state of being (since we are spirits). Where do people come up with such absurd ideas?

Scriptures very plainly teach that we will have resurrected bodies, though it does not say exactly what the bodies will be like, they will be bodies nonetheless--we will not be vapor like beings. The rich man in Luke 16 had no difficulty recognizing Lazarus in Abraham's bosom. Obviously, Lazarus was familiar looking to the rich man--he wasn't a vapor. (I know there are some who say this was a parable, but Jesus never calls it one nor does He approach the story as fictional in any way.)

In Matt. 29:28-30, Jesus tells His apostles that they will sit on 12 thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. That sounds like work to me. Later in these verses He states that we will inherit eternal "life" not eternal boredom. In 2 Tim. 2:12 we are told that if we endure, we shall also reign with Him. I intend on being very busy in Heaven, reigning in the bustling city of God, walking the streets of gold, crossing the river, and going in and out of the gates that are never closed. Rev. 22 says we will not need a lamp or the sun because the Lord God is all the light we will need. If we have no body and no eyes, why do we need light to see with? We are also told we will be eating from the tree of life. There will be plenty to do and see. Heaven is a real place with a real life! I can hardly wait to get there and experience it all.

Dana Burk