I told him my (very hypothetical) theory.
I believe that the real "reward" God has to give us is Himself -- true relationship, true fellowship. isn't that the best "thing" there is in the universe? I believe that heaven is a place where our deepest needs are satisfied, that each of us is filled to overflowing with Him. what is there left to vary? Surely only how big a capacity we have to fill? So perhaps the variance is on how much, in this present world, we have emptied us of ourselves, and put on christ instead? this would determine our capacity for Him in the world to come. Does that make sense? As someone, somewhere said, "if not this, something better will be."
Of course, the poet Robert Southwell, in his poem "the Nativity of Christ" expressed part of this idea much better than I ever will:
Gift better than himself God doth not know;
Gift better than his God no man can see.
This gift doth here the giver given bestow;
Gift to this gift let each receiver be.
God is my gift, himself he freely gave me;
God's gift am I, and none but God shall have me.
2 comments:
This is a very insightful picture. I love how you relate tomorrow's heaven with today's emptying.
I believe that the real "reward" God has to give us is Himself
I believe that too and I have another albeit hypothetical theory, how much reward depend on how big our hearts are and how much of the fruits of spirit we have already built within ourselves. The more of such fruits, the easier and livelier we will be with Him in heaven.
If we had not the love, the kindness, the peace, the patience, etc, we will never understand God to receive His goodness.
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