A gracEmail subscriber writes: “When I consider an eternity of praising God, it scares me that I think that I will get bored. I pray all the time for God to give me the kind of heart that will make that thought desirable, but nothing happens. What’s wrong with me?”
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Perhaps you have been wrongly taught. God’s people certainly will praise him in eternity and enjoy unhindered fellowship with him face to face (Rev. 22:5). That does not necessarily involve formal religious services, it seems to me, for God and the Lamb (Jesus) will be right there with us — a reality to which all earthly worship now points. To move from God’s constant immediate presence to some kind of worship in a Temple would be going backwards (21:22). This still leaves infinite room for singing, praising, adoring and worshiping God at any time — a delightful experience which will pour from our hearts spontaneously in light of the blessed circumstances. We cannot now begin to imagine just what that really means.
We will not be disembodied souls floating on clouds, but real people, made immortal for endless life in new heavens and new earth (Rev. 21:1). God’s entire creation will be renewed, redeemed, liberated from the curse of human sin (Rom. 8:19-22). Think of the most beautiful and breathtaking scenes on earth — majestic mountains, verdant valleys, mighty oceans, serene deserts, cascading waterfalls and all the rest — then remove any imperfections and imagine them forever! This will be Paradise Restored, but even better than the original (Rev. 22:1-2).
We will enjoy the company of all God’s people from all nations then (Rev. 21:2-5). The “holy city” will sparkle with the noblest, most brilliant achievements ever known on earth, but without any trace of sin (21:24-27). In my mind, this includes music and all the arts, the finest contributions from every culture. We will “serve” God, in assignments (I imagine) throughout the new universe (22:3). Yet there will be no drudgery, for we will also “reign” with him forever (22:5). The Bible doesn’t tell us all the details about the eternity awaiting the saved, but I believe you may be confident that you will never be bored.