We are practicing here. Practicing to be obedient, to be holy, practicing to deny ourselves and to be able to recognize the “us” that serves Christ, and the “us” that rebels against Him.
What it is we need and what it is we want, who it is we should associate ourselves with, and those we should not associate with, or even disassociate ourselves from.
If you would reread that opening section and take a few moments to contemplate each sentence, you could quite easily find one or more Scripture verses that would prove the truth of each of them. It’s that word “practicing” that some people have difficulty with.
“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jer. 31:34)
I personally believe that there are quite a few people who believe that after they get to heaven they are going to know everything, the complete Word of God memorized, the beginning of sin, the reality of the cross, everything that we wish we knew here will automatically be placed into our minds. But I do not think so.
There are others that believe, because of their misinterpretation of Isaiah 65:17. “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” that they will have no memories of their time here on earth, that all they will ever know is what is happening in heaven. That is not correct either.
My friends, in heaven you will still be hid in Christ, you will always be hid in Him, it is the only safe place from the wrath of the Almighty. That does not mean that, if it were possible, if we stepped outside of that hiding place that we would be consumed, but it does mean that it will always be the Lord Jesus Christ’s righteousness the Living God will see when He looks upon us, not ours.
We will not be “super smart” in heaven, we will be glorified, you are not automatically going to be perfectly versed in the ways of heaven, you will not know how to find your abode in the New Jerusalem, and you will need much, much time not only to meet all those who have been saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but also in introducing yourself to every angel.
It’s a good thing we have all eternity to continue learning as we serve, isn’t it?
For those who believe their memory will be wiped clean, do you honestly believe the Lord of Glory is going to allow any of us to forget who we were before He poured His grace and mercy upon us? Why those scars are in our Savior’s feet, hands and side? Your own children or spouse, those you loved in the Lord here?
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1st Cor. 2:9)
Some of these are just points of conjecture on my part, but they seem valid.
We are practicing, pretending at times for what it will be like in our eternal home, what it means to be honest and open with the Lord in our prayers, practicing for the day we will get to speak to Him in person, face to face. The heart that desires Him can do no less.
We have a teacher in the Holy Spirit, He will reveal what truths you can assimilate as it is necessary for you to know, but know this truth, we will always be learning, practicing how to glorify Him greater, how to serve Him more fervently. How to love Him more each passing day, every passing eon.
“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” (Prov. 4:18)
