What are the things that we cannot do in heaven?
Of course, we cannot sin. But we also should not sin on earth.
What I mean is, of all the things that God wants us to do, what are the things we can do on earth, but not in heaven?
Let us think. Today on earth, we worship God. What about in heaven? Our worship will be even more perfect, and it will be day and night for eternity. Today on earth, we learn God’s Word, we study the Bible. What about in heaven? We will continue to learn God’s Word, to learn to know God, and it will be an eternal learning, because God is infinite and eternal. Today on earth, we love each other. And in heaven? We will love each other even more perfectly. We will not hate each other anymore. All the things that God wants us to do, we can do it on earth, but we will do it even better in heaven. So since our worship, our learning, our loving, would be far greater in heaven, why are we still on earth? Isn’t it better to go to heaven sooner?
Because there is only one thing that we can do on earth, but cannot do in heaven. This thing is only for the present, on this earth, in this limited time, in this limited space. In eternity, in heaven, we will not be able to do it any longer. What is it?
Love the unbelievers as ourselves. Through social concerns, evangelism, missions, to love unbelievers as ourselves.
When we leave this world, there will be no unbelievers with us anymore. Even if you wanted to love them, there would be no chance, no way.
So, brothers and sisters, the reason you and I are alive is for them. If not for them, we might as well leave this world, since heaven is so much better than this world. As the apostle Paul said, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Philippians 1:23b)
I know an old man who is over eighty years old, yet he comes along with me on visitation evangelism, because he knows that there is no retirement from visitation evangelism. We will only retire from evangelism forever when we leave this world.
What are the things we cannot do in heaven?
In heaven, there is no social concerns, no evangelism, no missions. Yes, you will have the zeal, the vision, but there is nothing you can do. So, brothers and sisters, while we are still alive, let us focus on social concerns, evangelism, and missions. If we do not do these things, our lives have no meaning. We need to know clearly the purpose of our lives on this earth, that is, to be witnesses for Jesus Christ. Witnessing for Jesus will only happen on this earth, only in this life.
Jesus said: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
The Holy Spirit gives you and I power, so that we can witness for Jesus in this world, through social concerns, evangelism, and missions. Of course, our worship, our learning, our love for each other all need to grow on earth. But all these point to one thing: witnessing for Jesus Christ. In heaven, you and I cannot witness for Christ anymore, because there will not be any more unbelievers.