The following excerpt is taken from Making Today Count for Eternityby Kent Crockett, Multnomah Publishers, 2001, pages 110-111.
An engaged couple met untimely deaths. When they arrived in heaven, they asked God permission to marry. The Lord said, “It’s a bit unusual, but wait five years and see if you still want to marry each other.”
Five years passed and they made their request again. God said, “I want you to wait another five years.” After waiting ten years, they finally received permission and were married. It wasn’t long before they realized they made a horrible mistake and asked God for a divorce.
The Lord said, “Look, it took us ten years to find a minister here. Do you realize how long it will take to find a lawyer?”
Ministers and lawyers will be found in heaven, but not marriage or divorce. The institution of marriage was designed for this earthly life only. Jesus said, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage; for neither can they die anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection” (Luke 20:34-36).
Since marriages won’t exist in heaven, no children will be born in the next life. Those who were husbands and wives on earth will know each other in heaven, but won’t be married, since the marriage covenant is dissolved when a person dies (Romans 7:2).
Although this saddens me, I always remind myself that everything in heaven is far better than anything on earth. Did God make a mistake by not including marriage in the next life? Certainly not. No one will be disappointed in heaven, and all relationships will be exalted to perfection in God’s eternal kingdom.