What about...?

Sometimes a question jumps into a pastor's brain that seems to de-rail any other thoughts during sermon prep. Here's what grabbed me on Saturday night in the last moments of my review before the next day's message (and I'm putting it down here so that I don't try to chase this rabbit during the sermon and throw everyone else off the point of the message).

Here's the question: "Will all of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) be present in us when we get to Heaven?"

I mean, it seems obvious that - once we are free of sin - we will perfectly give and receive love and joy and peace and kindness and goodness and faithfulness and gentleness. 

These seven seem to be part of what it is to be in the presence of God. They will be the air we breathe. 

To be in the radiant presence of Jesus in all His glory - and to have the ability to take it all in with our resurrection hearts - will be the ultimate manifestation of Love and Joy and Peace and Kindness and Goodness and Faithfulness and Gentleness that we have been striving for, waiting for and groaning for in eager expectation since the Fall.  

But, what about patience and self-control? 

These two qualities of the fruit of the Spirit are very much needed on this side of eternity. We are thankful when the Holy Spirit grows us in these two parts of the fruit. There are not many of our sins that can be investigated without finding a lack of patience and/or a lack of self-control as a main cause.

As far as patience goes, it is a fact that one of the hardest parts of this life is the waiting. 

Impatience rears its head everywhere from the checkout line at the grocery store, to the funeral home. Whether we are waiting to get on with our day and are hindered by a person with too many coupons or we are waiting for the reunion with a dear loved one who finished this life before us - the waiting seems maddening.

So, it begs the question, will we need patience in Heaven? What will we be waiting for in Heaven that would require patience. Our every thirst, hunger and longing will be satisfied fully in Christ. What need will there be for patience?   

Then there's self-control. Very closely related to impatience, a lack of self-control seems to show up when our desire for something - good or bad - becomes all consuming and we lose sight of everything else to get that one thing.

So, on this side of Heaven, we desperately need the help of the Holy Spirit to grow self-control into our heart and life. 

But again, what would be the need in Heaven? 

In Heaven, when the obstructions and distractions of sin, Satan and self are put away, our ultimate desire will be to taste and see that the Lord is good and to praise His name and to do all things as unto Him. 

In Heaven - I can only guess at this - in Heaven no one will think twice if I lose sight of everything else I am doing to stop and praise Jesus or bow to Him or to simply stop and soak in His light and warmth.

So, will we need self-control? Will we need patience? 

I haven't found any answers to this question in any thing I've read. I'd love to hear your thoughts. And, I'd especially love to get any feedback from the Word of God if you find an answer in the Scriptures that I've overlooked.

If this question sparks your thinking too, give me a call or stop by the office, we can talk it over with a cup of coffee. 

I'll be waiting patiently.