Life in heaven will be glorious, that is, full of beauty, splendor, and magnificence. But that is just the outward sight of our heavenly home. We will at all times also feel incredibly happy, joyful, and full of love for God and all our friends. And we will no longer experience sickness, pain, sorrow, or anything negative; for we will be perfectly healthy and satisfied—with all our needs fulfilled. Indeed, we will have everything we ever needed or wanted. To put it in biblical terms, we will be joint-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). That means, everything that Christ receives from His Father by His divine right, we will receive as well, do to our adoption into the family of God. Romans 8:16-17 tells us,

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Our glorification it seems will be the final proof (or the indication) of our Christlikeness and of being joint-heirs with Him. For just as He is glorified, we also will be glorified—that is, having a new body of glory. And it will happen at the rapture when our dead body is resurrected (or when we are raptured alive) and when we see Him as He is (1 Jn. 3:2).

Our new body (our glorified body) will actually be our same earthly body glorified. But they will be a little different. We won’t have any wrinkles, or skin imperfections, or receding hairlines. We won’t have any health problems, or personality disorders, or depression, or bad attitudes, etc. And for that reason, a mortal person may not recognize us. (and that may be the case during the millennial kingdom). Oh yes, we will have supernatural abilities too—more than I can imagine.

These things (above) are the glory side of our heavenly life. But there will also be an honor side. Let me explain. All believers will be glorified and be joint-heirs with Christ. We will be perfectly satisfied and content and happy. And we will at all times drink of the water of life and eat of the tree of life freely. But there will also be honors given out according to each man’s earthly works—some more than others (read 1 Cor. 3:10-15). Daniel 12:3 says it well.

“Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

It seems from this text that those who are most rewarded (or honored) will be those who have a holy influence on others and those who “lead many to righteousness.” And it seems that their reward will be a greater capacity to reflect God’s glory. They will shine brighter as some stars shine and sparkle brighter than others.

I do think that this is true even now on earth. Those who have brought many to Christ and to the truth of the word do in fact shine brighter, at least in the eyes to true believers. However, God sees all; and even those who don’t have a large public ministry (they may have a ministry that is more concealed), God sees how they too have reached others. Hence, in the end, at the Bema seat, it will all come out; and all those who are worthy will be honored and will shine as the stars forever.

Yet we must not think that the honoring of some and the dishonoring of others will cause pride or bitterness. This will never happen. We will all be glad for each other and give glory to God for whatever happens. I see this illustrated well at the end of football games when certain deserving players receive a football to honor them for playing well at their position. I have never seen a player that didn’t get a football complain. Everyone is happy for all those who were honored.