Fix Your Eyes On Eternity: A 12-Day Devotional On Heaven And The New EarthSample

Many people believe we won’t eat or drink in the eternal Heaven. They assume the biblical language about eating and drinking and banquets is figurative and that we will eat only “in a spiritual sense.” But how does one eat in a spiritual sense? And why is there a need to look for a spiritual sense when resurrected people in actual bodies will live on a resurrected Earth? 

Let’s consider the biblical evidence. The resurrected Jesus invited His disciples, “Come and have breakfast.” He prepared them a meal and then ate bread and fish with them (John 21:4-14). He proved that resurrection bodies are capable of eating food, real food. This is a powerful statement about the nature of His resurrection body, and by implication, ours, since Christ “will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).

Other passages indicate that we’ll eat at feasts with Christ in an earthly kingdom. Jesus said, “Many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11). Where will the kingdom  of God come? To Earth. Where will God’s Kingdom reach its ultimate and eternal state? On the New Earth.

An angel in Heaven said to John, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation  19:9). What do people do at any supper—especially a wedding supper? Eat and drink, talk, tell stories, celebrate, laugh, and have dessert. Wedding feasts in the Middle East often lasted a full week. When we attend the wedding supper of the Lamb, we won’t be guests—we’ll be the bride!

We’re commanded, “Glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20, NKJV). What will we do for eternity? Glorify God in our bodies. We’re also told, “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). What will we do for eternity? Eat, drink, and do all to the glory of God.

The person who’s eaten the widest variety of meals on Earth still hasn’t tasted countless others. How many special dishes will you discover on the New Earth? As yet, you may not have tasted your favorite meal—and if you have, it didn’t taste as good as it will there. (After all, our resurrected bodies will have resurrected taste buds!) The best meals you’ll ever eat are all still ahead of you on the New Earth.