Heaven Is Not Retirement

You may be wondering, ”Lord, why is my job so upsetting to me? Why do my friendships often feel hollow? I go on vacations and enjoy pleasures in the world, but I still feel empty. What‘s wrong with me?”

There is nothing wrong with you. God is at work. He is keeping you sick and tired of this dying world. He is saying, ”You can‘t get too involved in ‘making it‘ here because it‘s all going up in smoke. Set your affections on things above, on the new world that is coming.”

You might answer, ”Isn‘t that a waste? I‘m so full of energy. I have talent, ideas, a sharp mind, a desire to accomplish much. Yet I feel stifled, stymied. It‘s so frustrating.”

I have good news for you. When it all ends and your scoffing friends are cut off, their prized possessions melted to nothing, their careers dissolved, their money burned, then your work is just about to begin.

Heaven is not a retirement center. Rather, our eternal home is a place of great action, full of new horizons and incredible plans. God is going to fully use all your gifts, talents, and desires there. He is not going to waste a thing he has given you. On the contrary, your gifts will be magnified many times over. He is going to use you for his glory in eternity!

Jesus gives us several hints as to what this experience will be like.

”Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods” (Matthew 24:46-47). The Greek word for ruler here suggests ”an eternal appointment.” We are going to be appointed by God as keepers over his goods throughout all eternity!

”His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.‘” (Matthew 25:21).

”And he said to him,‘ Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.‘” (Luke 19:17).

We‘ll have eternal appointments, ruling over his household, ruling over his goods, and ruling over cities. We are going to rule and reign with Jesus in his kingdom as kings and priests!