Below is a quote by revivalist & theologian Jonathan Edwards on the nature & character of relational love in heaven. A love free from envy, jealousy, & striving. He was preaching through 1 Corinthians 13:8-12. I was reading his sermon – heaven is a world of love – in the house of prayer this morning reveling in Edward’s explanation of what’s to come for the redeemed. Dim though it is, it’s stunning (1 Cor 13:9). And though I don’t agree with a point or two in the sermon (i.e. Edward’s view that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not active today), I highly recommend a read through of the full transcript & his other work for that matter.
Here’s the quote, mind the old english:
“In heaven there shall be no remaining enmity, or distaste, or coldness, or deadness of heart towards God and Christ. Not the least remainder of any principle of envy shall exist to be exercised toward angels or other beings who are superior in glory; nor shall there be aught like contempt or slighting of those who are inferiors. Those that have a lower station in glory than others, suffer no diminution of their own happiness by seeing others above them in glory. On the contrary, all the members of that blessed society rejoice in each other’s happiness, for the love of benevolence is perfect in them all. Every one has not only a sincere, but a perfect goodwill to every other. Sincere and strong love is greatly gratified and delighted in the prosperity of the beloved object; and if the love be perfect, the greater the prosperity of the beloved is, the more is the lover pleased and delighted; for the prosperity of the beloved is, as it were, the food of love, and therefore the greater that prosperity, the more richly is love feasted. The love of benevolence is delighted in beholding the prosperity of another, as the love of complacence is, in beholding the beauty or perfection of another. So that the superior prosperity of those that are higher in glory, is so far from being a hindrance to the degree of love felt toward them, that it is an addition to it, or a part of it.
“The saints shall have no fear that the love of God will ever abate towards them… And they shall have no jealousy one of another, but shall know that by divine grace the mutual love that exists between them shall never decay nor change.”
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven… 1 Peter 1:3-4
