" [1]

Be sure that the repose of Heaven will be no idling in flowery meadows
or sitting for ever in a big temple at worship, as the poor, weary
little children are sometimes told after a long sermon in church. No,
"there is no temple in Heaven," we are told--no Church. Because all
life is such a glad serving and rejoicing in God that men need no
special times and places for doing it.

IV. SHALL WE KNOW ONE ANOTHER IN HEAVEN?

What else can we learn? Shall we know one another? Does any one
really doubt it who believes in God at all? What sort of Heaven would
it be otherwise? What sort of comfort would there be if we did not
know one another? Oh, this beggarly faith, that God has to put up
with, that treats the Father above as it would treat a man of doubtful
character. "I must have His definite texts. I must have His written
pledges, else I will not believe any good thing in His dealing." That
is our way. We talk very piously about our belief in God's love, but
we are afraid to infer anything, to argue anything from the infinitude
of that love. No, we must have God's bond signed and sealed. I do
believe that one reason why we have not more of direct answers about
the mysteries of the future life is because God thought that no such
answer should be necessary--that His love, if one would only believe in
it, is a sufficient answer to them all.

There is less need of discussing the subject here, since we have
already dealt with the question of Recognition in the Intermediate Life
(Part I, Chapter VII). If even in that imperfect state "absent from
the body" we saw reason to hope for recognition, think how that hope
rises to certainty in the great perfect life of Heaven where "I" shall
be again "in the body" the glorious perfect spiritual body.

As I have pointed out the Bible gives only passing hints on the
subject. But it comforts the mourners with the thought of meeting
those whom Christ will bring with Him. What would be the good of
meeting if they should not know them? St. Paul expects to meet his
converts and present them before Christ. How could he do so if he did
not know them? Our Lord depicts Dives and Lazarus even in the lower
Hades life as knowing each other. He says to the dying thief as they
went within the veil, "To-day shalt thou be with Me." What could it
mean except they should know each other within?

But surely the Bible does not need to say it. It is one of those
things t