More about heaven

So the book "Heaven" is pretty big. Honestly, had I not found it in audio format I'd never have gotten to it. So let me share a few specific "light bulbs" that went on for me as I listened to it:

Marriage
This has always bothered me. The gospels describe a dialogue between the Sadducees and Jesus. To paraphrase, they asked Jesus, "Throughout her life, a woman is married seven times. In heaven, whose wife will she be?" Jesus' answer: "At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage" (Matthew 22:30, Luke 20:35, Mark 12:25). Honestly, Jesus' answer almost makes me not want to go to heaven! I can't imagine being in heaven with Sheryl, but without the deep bond we have now, or with no deeper bond than we have with everybody else in heaven.

Randy explains Jesus' answer in a way that I found greatly comforting. First, we need to understand that marriage is something that God instituted, and that it is a deep symbol of His relationship with us. In heaven, and ultimately on the new earth, we (the Church) will be the "bride of Christ," and our relationship with Him and with each other will be made perfect. Ergo, marriage as we know it will no longer be necessary. However! We will still fully be ourselves - as fully as you can imagine - and there's no reason to think our relationships now won't carry on into heaven (and the new earth). So even though Sheryl & I may not be legally married, we'll still be as much together then as we are now. That bond will last (and deepen) for eternity, and I'm elated to know that!

Incidentally, this same explanation applies to other relationships as well. We won't arrive in heaven and completely forget everybody on the earth. There are several passages that describe people in heaven talking about or recollecting people, situations and relationships from their lives on the earth. So why shouldn't we expect the same for ourselves?

Heaven on earth
We talk about heaven as if it's our final destination - that we will spend eternity in heaven. After all, Jesus and the thief that was crucified alongside him were united in heaven (paradise) that very day. It is also right to say that that redeemed thief is still in heaven, as are all the saints. However, the Bible describes a day when the earth will be renewed (notice - not destroyed!) and the New Jerusalem will descend from heaven on to the "new" earth. Our final destination, then, is earth! Look around you. Do you see trees? Mountains? Birds? Water? Do you feel a breeze? See the sun? Stars? This will be our eternal home! Want to go camping? You can! Swim in the ocean? Go for it! Let your imagination run wild. The new earth will be the old earth - renewed. This makes eternity palpable, and to me, exhilarating!

Animals/Pets
The Bible describes the new earth as having animals - "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them" Isaiah 11:6 (interesting note/question - will there be children in heaven? If so, will they grow up?). The book "Heaven" doesn't say definitively that all animals will be resurrected, but it does seriously allow for the idea that God may choose to raise certain pets for us. I know Sheryl's passion for animals (which I believe is God-given) and her love for running agility with our dogs. Well, there's no reason to think God would deny her that desire on the new earth.

Clothing
The concise answer: it seems very likely that we will wear clothing - and not just white robes, but unique, colorful, expressive clothes that express our individuality and creative nature. A relief, I'm sure, for many :)

Coffee
I think Randy addressed this topic in his book just in case Lorelei Gilmore were to read it. His answer as to whether or not we'll drink coffee in heaven is, "why not?" Unless the Bible speaks directly on the topic (which it doesn't), we have to allow for the possibility. This will be the same earth as we know it, so there's no reason to think we won't have coffee in heaven.

The book "Heaven" is full of questions and answers, and as far as I could tell from listening to it, doesn't necessarily have to be read from cover to cover. The first few chapters are good for an overall depiction of heaven and the new earth, but a majority of the book is in the form of Q&A. So even though it's a large book, don't let the size deter you. Read the first few chapters, then look up the answers to the questions you may have. The next book I want to read on the topic is a book titled "Surprised by Joy" by C.S. Lewis.

NOTE: All references to the book "Heaven" are based on my recollection of the book and I've likely interjected some of my own interpretations. To know the exact answers as given by the book, you'll need to go to the source.