Heaven will be dynamic. The new heavens and new earth will be a place of learning and growth. Days will roll by, each as full and dynamic, and restful, and delightful as the last. There will be laughter and work and discovery and all of it will be done as worship. Can you wait for that dynamic day?
When you enter heaven, how much will you know? Will you have all knowledge as it pertains to your life? Perfect knowledge as it pertains to everything?
Can we learn in heaven? According to one survey, only 18% of Americans believe that people will “grow intellectually in heaven.”[i] It makes sense. We should know everything in heaven, right? In the presence of God, won’t all knowledge be ours?
I don’t believe so. I think that Scripture sides with the 18% who believe we will be learners in heaven. Paul says, “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace” (Eph 2:6-7). Do you catch the presumption of active learning in heaven in that verse? God is going to show us the incomparable riches of his grace… in the coming ages!
What are the incomparable riches of his grace he will show us? The list is endless. We will certainly understand the wonder of God’s grace on the cross more perfectly, but we will also be shown more profoundly God’s grace in creation, in art, in science, in beauty!
America’s greatest theologian Jonathan Edwards rejoiced in the progressive increase of our knowledge in heaven, “The number of ideas of the saints shall increase to eternity.”[ii]
In God’s grace-filled purpose, we are built to be learners. The wonders of the new heavens and the new earth are an invitation to discovery. We need eternity to explore our infinite God, who is incomprehensibly beautiful and intelligent. Each day we will exclaim about God first, and then his creation, “Look! Can you imagine? This is amazing!”
We will read; we will talk; we will study; we will learn. We will explore; we will discover; we will create; and we will work. That’s right, we’ll work!
