What is heaven like?

At Camp Calumet this week, we talked about questions like, "Do dogs go to heaven?" That conversation quickly tangented into one of the topics found in today's reading, "Will I be married in heaven?" Unlike the Sadducees, we believe in the resurrection (that's why they're sad-you-see), but we claim to know more about heaven than we possibly can. I think we make a mistake when we talk about receiving rewards of differing degrees in heaven after all of this hard work and good behavior on earth. Is there anything better than simply being with God all of the time?

In the Gospel of Matthew, during the sermon on the mount, Jesus says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." He continues a few verses later, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

Notice the shift from "up there" to "down here". The treasures we store up in heaven are not ours personally, but God's (it all is here too). When we serve, either we take the credit or give it to him (i.e. store it up in heaven). Being a governor of 11 cities applies to here on earth, not in heaven. I'm not even sure we can image what the afterlife will be like, but we can serve God in this life. Too whom much is given, much is expected...