I grew up in a devout Christian home. We attended church faithfully. We read our bibles together and in private devotions. I have many fond memories of attending and then, when I was older, working at VBS programs, summer camps and Sunday school classes. It’s a heritage I’m proud of.
Despite what you may think, we weren’t cloistered from the culture. We enjoyed modern movies, books and music. But knowing they were often used to promote outright sin, we approached them with a wary eye. The wagons were quickly circled when Madonna, horror movies or violent video games appeared. And when it came to the unknown, we always erred on the side of caution.
Now let me explain something. The choices I make about what movies, books and music my family consumes are strikingly similar to the choices my parents made for me. The problem lay not in the choices but in our worldview.
First of all, we did not see movies, books or music to have eternal value in and of themselves. They could be used to edify. But ultimately they were cosmetic and temporary, window dressing on a sinking ship.
And working to refine your skills at any of them was fine as a hobby or for relaxation but not to be taken too seriously. After all, wouldn’t it be better to spend time preaching or being a missionary; saving as many souls as possible before the ship was swallowed up by the depths.
But several things changed in my theology that forced me to rethink this worldview. Here’s a big one.
In Genesis we see God create a world. Not a floaty-spirit world, but a garden. There were trees, animals, dirt and a man naming animals. Now a man naming animals is not all that different from a man writing a novel or making a movie. It’s the act of taking the materials God has created and making something with them.
Then sin enters the world. And like a cancer it begins to consume everything, ultimately killing God Himself.
Fast forward to Revelation. God is literally bringing hell to earth, pouring out his wrath on the wicked and avenging the blood of the saints. It’s terrifying. Then, just before the book ends, we see the city of God coming down to a new earth. And God says, “Behold I am making all things new.”
Wait, did you catch that? We aren’t escaping the sinking ship to be with God. God is coming down. And He’s coming to make the ship seaworthy again! To make all things new.
So what was the world like when it was new? There was a garden. There were trees. There was dirt. And there was a man naming animals. There was a man making things.
I used to dread heaven. For some reason I thought it was going to consist of everybody dressed in choral robes standing around singing for all eternity. I’m not that great of a singer, so the idea of being a part of an eternal choir sounded very much like eternal torment. But I’ve come to see that my childhood picture of heaven wasn’t biblical at all.
Heaven will be like Eden. Only this time, sin is banished. And men have an understanding of God’s character that Adam didn’t have. There will be gardens, trees and dirt. And men will be making things.
I wonder what I’ll be making in heaven? A movie, a book, maybe even some music?
I can’t wait to find out.
