Occupied With Praise
The quality of our worship and adoration in life will remain the same in heaven, and it is our choice to make it a priority.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that our earthly attitudes towards worship and praise will not change after death. He argues that if we find it tedious to worship God now, we are unlikely to become enthusiastic worshipers in heaven. Tozer warns that God will not force us into a love for worship that we did not cultivate during our lives. He highlights the continuous praise of God in heaven as depicted in Revelation, urging believers to engage actively in worship while on earth rather than resting too often from glorifying God.
Text
It is surely an erroneous supposition for humans to think or to believe that death will transform our attitude and dispositions. This is what I mean: if in this life we are not really comfortable talking and singing about heaven and its joy, I doubt that death will transform us into enthusiasts! If the worship and adoration of God are tedious now, they will be tedious also after the hour of death. I do not know that God is going to force any of us into His heaven.
I doubt that He will say to any of us, "You were never very interested in worshiping Me while you were on earth, but in heaven I am going to make that your greatest interest and your ceaseless occupation." Controversial?
Perhaps, but in the heavenly scene John describes, the living creatures crying "Holy, holy, holy!" rest neither day nor night. My fear is that too many of God's professing people down here are resting far too often between their efforts to praise and glorify the living God!
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of Heaven
- Heaven is not a place of transformation
- Our attitude and disposition in life will remain in heaven
Key Quotes
“If the worship and adoration of God are tedious now, they will be tedious also after the hour of death.” — A.W. Tozer
“I doubt that He will say to any of us, 'You were never very interested in worshiping Me while you were on earth, but in heaven I am going to make that your greatest interest and your ceaseless occupation.'” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Make worship and adoration a priority in your life, not just on Sundays or special occasions.
- Recognize that worship is not just a feeling, but a choice and an action.
- Prepare yourself for heaven by cultivating a heart of praise and adoration for God now.