Jesus said to the Father, that the Father loved the Son “before the creation of the world” (John 17:24).  This is not a small issue.

It is assumed that worship, praise, glory, and honor are in heaven according to the Bible.  But it is not just that, it is the place where love is abundant.

The highest ethic is love and the greatest love is self-sacrificing and honoring one another (John 15:13).  Jesus teaches us about love while He is on this earth.

Love isn’t just the toleration of sin and everything goes.  That isn’t love.  True love has boundaries.

For example, when a person marries, there are boundaries to that love.  It is not to be shared with others.  When betrayal happens, it is devastating.

Fidelity is the banks of the river that keep the water limited and flowing.  When a river overflows, it causes devastation.

But when love is put in its boundaries, there is great celebration, life, fun, playfulness, pleasure, and fulfillment.  This is what love is about.  It respects and honors others even as oneself.

This is what heaven is about.  Jesus sacrificed his life not just so that you spend eternity with Him, although that was critical and necessary.  He did it so you and I could share in the overflow of the abundance of His love.

The cross was awful.  But what kept Him there?

It was “for the joy set before him” (Heb 12:2).

What is his joy?

We are.

There are no leftovers in heaven.  There are no people on the fringe, on the outside, rejected, set aside, discarded, alone.

Heaven is a great party of celebration for all.  It is the place of life and love.

It’s why God created mankind.

He wanted more people with whom to share that love.