One of my son’s best friends recently signed a multi-million dollar deal to play a sport in his final year of college. He even had his picture and name on a billboard in Times Square. Of course, we are thrilled for his success, and we pray that he will be a light for the Lord in the calling in which he has been placed. But we also recognize the temporary nature of the world’s fame. It is very fluid and fickle. The minute you let the world down, they are often done with you, thrown away like yesterday’s archaic newspapers. The things of this life are as brief as a wisp of breath on an icy winter day.
This is not so in the heavenly realm, however. Even the smallest gesture of giving a cup of cold water to a child in the name of a disciple is seen and rewarded in eternity. (Matthew 10:42, Mark 9:41). Absolutely nothing is wasted with the Lord. He sees it all. But heaven’s “Times Square” will not be devoted to revering people’s achievements on earth. Throughout the book of Revelation, eight passages of Scripture describe the central focus of Heaven. (Revelation 4:8-11; 5:9-10, 12-14; 7:9-12; 11:16-19; 14:3; 15:3-4; 19:1-8).
Why this central focus point on Jesus? John summarizes Jesus’ worthiness of worship in the first chapter of Revelation.
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:5-8.
Had Jesus not loved us, had mercy on us, given His life in sacrifice for ours, and washed away our sins with His own blood, not one of us would step foot into the joy of Heaven. Without His merciful compassion, we would all be separated from God and assigned to the same hell the devils will occupy forever. His worship will occupy us throughout all eternity.
Many cartoonists depict people in heaven with harps, whiling away the endless days with boredom. This is not at all what Revelation describes. Revelation 22:3-4 assures us of that.
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
There will be work to do, and many will serve as kings and priests in this perfect, trouble-free world.
The challenge the Lord has brought to my attention, as I considered the endless worship of Heaven, has been the worship Jesus deserves today. Malachi, the endcap of the Old Testament, describes the weariness of God’s people as they waited for their Messiah the first time. Their worship became half-hearted as they brought offerings they would not have given their governor. They stopped living as if He were coming. Believers can fall into the same pattern today. Church becomes a chore, daily Bible reading too time-consuming, prayer forgotten, gratitude relegated to one day a year, tithing a burden, soul-winning non-existent. We will still go to Heaven, but we will be deeply ashamed when we see Him face to face. Why not drop down in spontaneous worship now? Why not set aside everything to be in His house when the doors are open now? Why not pray in gratitude and anticipation of His coming now? Why not read the love letter of His Word with joy-filled expectation now?
Has He not already purchased our eternity with His own blood? Is He not worthy for His Name to be lifted today?
We are easily distracted by things that will have little value in Heaven. The riches we give our lives over for here will only be street paving there. Jesus deserves the central priority of our lives today, and we must not wait until Heaven to treat Him in the way He deserves.
Our Hope has a Name. His Name is Jesus. May His Name be on our lips as often today as it will be in Eternity.
His Song in the Night 