Exalted is a relative word and in comparison to what we have here as opposed to what is available in heaven. They will go to a place where they will dwell forever with people like themselves. If you have read C.S. Lewis’ “The Great Divorce”, I imagine (and I emphasize the word imagine) it might be something like that. They will be exalted above death and deterioration, but they will not know joy, progression, the presence of their Father in Heaven (and even of His influence which maintains what thin veneer of civility we humans have). It is not a place where I would want to dwell. The burning talked about in the scriptures is, we believe, one of mental torment and it will be far more miserable for them than some burning pit with demons poking them. They will see the joy of the righteous and be forever barred from enjoying it themselves because of their deeds on earth.
Now, having said that, I don’t know the role of repentance and judgment and I don’t presume to know exactly where people will end up. We believe we must work out our salvation day to day, enduring to the end, slowly and with the Lord’s help, turning into people who will be able to live in a heavenly environment. We believe that the Savior’s atonement made it possible to return to the Father but that we must affirmatively take advantage of that atonement by repentance every day of our lives.
I try to envision things in concrete ways and the likeliest analogy I can imagine when it comes to the division of people into different “mansions” in heaven is somewhat like wanting to visit Jupiter. We might think it grand to explore Jupiter but the laws of gravity apply and were we to go there as we are, we would be pinned to the ground by its immense gravity. We simply are not built to withstand the forces of Jupiter, no matter how much we want to be there. Hence, it is mercy that we don’t go there. I envision Heaven somewhat of the same. You must be the type of person who can withstand the presence of the Lord or else being there would be hardly less than a prison and you would voluntarily want to go elsewhere. I imagine Heaven a place of purity, of light unbounded, of transparency, and of power. Those who don’t want to live in that environment would probably choose of their own accord to go away. Whether that choice will be given them is not important. They simply would be miserable even if they were allowed to enter in.
I don’t know if I am satisfying you but I am thankful for your respectful questions. You have a lot of class and exemplify a true Christian.
Thank you for your reply. In reviewing your previous posts I did notice that you had given short shrift to the idea that someone might go through the trials of life only to be given the eternal reward of being in a heavenly choir for eternity. Your words were as follows: "God doesn’t put us through the tests of mortal life just to assign us to sing in the heaven choir for the rest of eternity."
While we can speculate all we want about what heaven is going to be, I can state with assurance that if God were to reward me with a chance to sing in the choir in heaven for eternity, I would be eternally grateful.
As a sinner I deserve to be cast into hell. The only reason I will ever be able to remain in the presence of God is because I will have been washed white and my sins erased by the precious blood of Christ.
To be invited to sing praises before the Throne of God for eternity in his presence is an honor I am not worthy to granted. I can only hope that this would be my reward.
The only honor that could exceed that would be the opportunity to be chosen to be part of the worship band. :-)