Is This Heaven? No, It’s Iowa

There has been a renewed interest in the physicality of heaven. For a long time, it seems, evangelicals have imagined eternity as something of an otherworldly ethereal harps and clouds spiritual existence. While there is a lot that we are NOT told about what eternity is like, the hints we receive – not the least of which being the resurrection of the body – point to a physical reality.

It’s wonderful to imagine the continuity between this life and the next. I will have a body. Glorified in some way, but a body nonetheless, a body with correspondence to the body I now have.

There will be other continuities. Andy Couch in his intriguing book Culture Making reflects on the implications of God presenting eternity as a city descended to the earth. Without taking time to marshall all his well laid out argumentation, it is worthy to consider what cultural delights might accompany us in that age.

Earlier I wondered what occupations might find a parallel in the new heavens and new earth. I argued for preacher and others of you argued for musician, architect, and designer.

Now I want us to imagine what gifts of God given to us in this life will continue to be enjoyed in heaven. Crouch suggests french fries. Might it be possible to enjoy french fries without artery clogging or weight gain? I like to imagine that there will be access to cherry pie and baseball. Certainly baseball, maybe even played in an Iowa-esque cornfield!

One is tempted to say that we would not need to enjoy cherry pie or baseball, for all our satisfaction would be found in the Lamb. And yet, when I eat a pie today, I give praise to its proximate and distant creator – my wife, and the One who created flavors and taste buds, and pleasure. I cannot see such delight and the praise which ensues disappearing from a perfected creation.

What might you hope to find in the new heavens and new earth?