“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2. The word used above for house in the Greek alludes to God’s abode (the expanse of Heaven). Therefore, when we read the word “mansions” we should immediately be struck with awe. The Greek word “monē”, translated into English as mansions, is also translated as abode or dwelling place. But considering God’s magnificence, and the expanse of Heaven, we can be assured our dwelling place in Heaven will be far superior to any human perception of an earthly mansion.

 

When we think of a mansion here on earth most of us are able to conjure up numerous images of palatial manors. The dictionary describes “Mansion” as a large and stately house. Hollywood instantly comes to mind. But there is nothing on earth that we can compare our Heavenly abode. By-in-large, Heaven is a mystery to those of us still living and breathing. Therefore the mansion or abode that Jesus went to prepare for each of His followers must likewise be a mystery.

 

So what is Heaven? It is the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect, where God dwells and other heavenly beings as well. What will we be doing in Heaven for an eternity? We have not been presented with any kind of itinerary as to our eternal existence in God’s abode, thus conjecture seems to be our only avenue. Okay then, what won’t we be doing? Well, one thing is for sure, we know from our Lord’s own declaration that there will be no marriage or procreation in Heaven “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” Matthew 22:30. This verse simply means we will be immortal, as are angels. Thus there will be no need for the further procreation of human beings.

 

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:” 2 Corinthians 5:1-2. Paul’s reference to our earthly house means our current bodies, which will be dissolved. But then Paul mentions another house. Paul refers to our glorified bodies when he says clothed with our house from Heaven. This is not our “monē”, our abode or dwelling place. We will receive our glorified bodies instantaneously when we die or when we are raptured, but Jesus has spent the last two thousand years preparing our personal mansion in Heaven.

 

Occasionally when the question of what we will be doing in Heaven is broached it seems as though the questioner is concerned more about boredom setting in than anything else. Boredom is a humanistic trait in full association with evil. With the mere thought of an abode such as a mansion awaiting us, a mansion unlike anything of an earthly nature, what else might we consider to be waiting for us on our arrival into Heaven? What we have been given is an expectation of great things which await us in Heaven, none of which will entice our humanistic sinful tendencies. Why? Because we will no longer have any sinful tendencies. But what we will have is “…an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away…”. 1 Peter 1:4.

 

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Philippians 3:20-21. Paul speaks of our conversation in Heaven. The Greek word used in this instance, and in this instance only, for conversation is “politeuma” which signifies the condition, or life, of a citizen, citizenship; “politeuma” is the heavenly status of believers. Unlike our status on earth where we should be living orderly lives all in accordance to God’s will, our citizenship in Heaven will be godly and orderly, completely void of anything that would be contrary to God’s perfect existence. 

 

Pretty much everything we humans seek after as entertainment here on earth will be non-existent in Heaven. What will we do without football, baseball, basketball, NASCAR? What about Nintendo, Wii, X-Box and all the rest? How will we survive without television? What about all the extracurricular activities we find so necessary to our existence today? Little league, golf, vacations, will they be available in Heaven? Once we’ve mastered sitting on a cloud and playing the harp will we become bored out of our minds and wish there was something more fulfilling in Heaven? What good is the most magnificent mansion without all our wonderful earthly distractions?

 

Since eternity has no beginning and no end, there will be no end to our existence in Heaven. If we were ever to become bored with our Heavenly mansion, how would that boredom ever end? It wouldn’t, it would be eternal. Boredom is fully satanic in nature. This satanic influence, which has become part of just about everyone’s life on earth, has no bearing on Heaven. Boredom exists only in this realm which flows with two opposing supernatural influences. Heaven has only One Godly supernatural influence. That being the case, boredom, chaos, apathy and rebellion will never raise their ugly heads in Heaven. 

 

Heaven is where we find the Throne Room of God. We who the Father has drawn have chosen Heaven over Hell and we will be physically with God for all eternity. That aspect of Heaven is incredible in and of itself. As our current thought processes try to grasp what it will be like when we finally see God face to face, any thought of boredom should be obliterated. When our minds move past the idea of existing with God in His presence for all eternity, it’s only human nature to revert back to the question “What will we be doing and what will be our responsibilities as we settle into our Heavenly mansions?” But in Heaven that human nature will be nonexistent.

 

The idea of physically doing the same thing in Heaven that we may derive pleasure and entertainment from while here on earth is preposterous. Most of what is associated with entertainment on earth is satanic, so no need to look for that kind of entertainment in Heaven. Anything and everything that draws our attention away from God here on earth will not exist in Heaven.

 

If you get little to no joy from your worship time with the Lord here on earth, then you won’t like Heaven. If you view fellowshipping with likeminded “in Christ” believers as tiresome and fruitless, then your idea of Heaven is probably not going to fulfill your desires. If you desire the pleasures of this world more than you desire God you probably consider this world your home, in which case you’re not looking forward to relocating to Heaven. If you’ve been taught that Heaven is a place where saints sit around on clouds and play harps continually, then an eternity of staring at that prospect might well be very unappealing. If you consider Bible study boring, then that attitude might well reflect your idea of what to expect in Heaven. Man and his sightless perceptions block the truth of what Heaven is all about. Once we get past the fact that with God there can be no concept of boredom, Heaven then opens up limitless possibilities. An abode (a mansion) awaits us. When we look to Heaven with the expectation that the proportions of that abode are of a scope and of a dimension beyond that of which our imaginations can grasp, then we will begin to marvel at the concept of a Heavenly mansion being prepared for us by our Lord. What an eternity of exploration awaits!

 

God took Adam from the place where He had created him and placed him in new surroundings which were far more pleasurable and beautiful. The place where Adam was created is earth, and God returned man to the place of his creation after his rebellion. This action was a punishment. Therefore, after all these years mankind has no true concept of what the Garden of Eden consisted of. But its magnificence had to have been far reaching.

 

There are aspects of earth that we consider beautiful and even alluring at times, but we must remember we live in a completely fallen and cursed world. Thus, we don’t really know beauty in its pure form. Throughout all of earth’s history mankind has had their God given senses horribly dulled. We live in a realm filled with wickedness and unpleasant consequences that are derived from bad decisions. Compared to Heaven we have been living in a wasteland, thus trying to picture in our mind’s eye what Heaven and our awaiting mansion consists of is not humanly possible.

 

Paul speaks of being caught up into the third Heaven “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” 2 Corinthians 12:2-4. Paul could not even bring himself to speak a word of what he saw. As a matter of fact he tells us it would be unlawful for any man to utter such things. Without a doubt what Paul saw was to the human mind indescribable. No earthly words could have done Heaven justice therefore it was not lawful for a man to utter such things.

 

We were meant to enjoy our God and His Kingdom with full disclosure. Because of Adam and Eve’s rebellion, we must wait for God to reveal it to us when we are finally glorified. But it will be immensely more beautiful and entertaining than anything earthly. Will there be even one moment in Heaven when boredom will set in and we find ourselves wishing for a good baseball game? No. Why? Because there are no “moments” in Heaven, our existence there will be one beautiful and constant flow of God and man joined together in indescribable love and communion.

 

There is no comparison anywhere on earth that might be viewed as heavenly, only Heaven itself will suffice. No, there will be no boredom in our new mansions, or in all of Heaven for that matter, only pure indescribable joy, which is Jesus Christ our Lord. I’m sure everyone at some point ponders Heaven. Yet ponder as they will, only those who have said yes to Jesus Christ will ever enter therein.

 

God bless you all,

 

Ron Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

 

All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed

 

Please continue your prayers for my health. God is doing great things in my life. I am once again able to walk short distances and do minimal chores around our home. The diabetes meant a changed diet, the MG is still with me, but some of my strength has returned and I’m less fatigued. The prostate cancer for now is in remission. God is good, and hears the prayers of the faithful.

 

I’m very grateful to those of you who have been led by God to send gifts of support. God is the giver of all good gifts; He is great and greatly to be praised. If God is leading you to send a gift, please send it to Ron Graham – 96 County Road 5480, Salem, MO, 65560. For those of you who have suggested it, I have set up a PayPal account using my email address twotug@embarqmail.com as my account access number. Thank you my brethren, God bless you all.

 

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