If I am right about this
both spiritually and theologically speaking, this
might also help us understand something about
suffering.
First off, we will all be happy for all eternity in
Heaven. Joyously, incredibly happy.
However (and this might sound strange, so hear me
out), some of us are going to receive a greater
share of rewards in which joy will be
increased. Let me borrow the illustration used
by Therese of Lisieux's in her book Diary
of a Soul. Her sister set out two
glasses. One glass was large and the other one
was small. She then filled both of them with
water up to the rims. "Which of them is more
full?" she asked.
The answer is neither one was more full. They
were both filled to capacity.
As a side note
let me quote the following. Matthew 6: Truly,
I say to you, they have received their reward. But
when you give to the needy, do not let your left
hand know what your right hand is doing, so that
your giving may be in secret. And your Father who
sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray,
you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love
to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the
street corners, that they may be seen by others.
Truly, I say to you, they have received their
reward..."
Some people have received their rewards on earth,
but those rewards pale in comparison to those
received in Heaven. The have it all now
preachers just don't get it.
Some people
will have the capacity to be more happy - more
joyous in Heaven even though we will all be as happy
as we can be. Well how do we get bigger
glasses in heaven? How do we get a greater
capacity for joy? It might tie in to how much
we allow the Holy Spirit to stretch us right now...
and we become more malleable, more pliable by how
much suffering breaks down the fleshly man here on
earth. Paul intimated this in Romans 8.
"18 For I consider that the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the
earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits
for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the
creation was subjected to futility, not willingly,
but because of Him who subjected it in hope."
Joni
Eareckson Tada has
spent her life in a wheelchair. She has
suffered daily while serving the Lord. She
has suffered more than I can begin to
imagine. Will her rewards be greater?
I have no doubt whatsoever. In the sense
that she will receive greater rewards, she will be
happier in heaven. How can that be true if I
am as happy and as joyful in Heaven as I can
be? How could anyone possibly be happier
than me? The simple answer might be that her
capacity for joy is greater. To
borrow Therese of Lisieux's
illustration again, her glass is simply bigger.
I heard a story once
that was difficult to understand. A woman
who had suffered much in life went on a
retreat. Upon arriving, a nun listened to
the woman's story. When the woman finished,
the nun said, "God must love you very much."
Hebews 12:6 For whom the
Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son
whom he receiveth.
In this earthly
life we endure suffering. A non-Christian
suffers and so does a Christian. Some suffer
more than others. Some people get meaner and
harder from the suffering they endure. But,
those who open up to the Holy Spirit are
stretched. In order to stretch, they die to
self. They are made bigger vessels.
Their capacity is stretched so that in Heaven they
will contain greater joy. We say He is the
potter and we are the clay. This is so true!
In art class we
made clay pots. Some weren't very
pretty. Those inferior pots were mashed and
remade into better ones. You might say the
inferior pot suffers in the process. But the
new pot is better, prettier and more capable of
better use and appreciation.
Remember these
words from 1 Peter 4:13. "But rejoice that you
share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may
be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory."
Do these thoughts help us come closer to
understanding why God allows suffering in our
lives? I hope so. I don't want to
suffer. I hate suffering. But, we are
PROMISED that our present sufferings prepare us for
greater things for all eternity. It will all
be revealed to us in Heaven. No wonder we so
long so much to go home. No wonder we yearn
for the rapture. No wonder all of creation
groans!
Be blessed. God loves you very much.
YBIC
Bruce Baber