Randy Alcorn has written several books on heaven. The following piece is adapted from his blog at http://www.epm.org
“Will there be coffee in Heaven?” Someone may say, “I sure hope so.” But it’s a statement that few would attempt to defend biblically.
But consider the facts. God made coffee. Coffee grows on earth, which God made for mankind, put under our management, and filled with resources for our use. When God evaluated his creation, he deemed coffee trees, along with all else, to be “very good.” Many people throughout history have enjoyed coffee.
God tells us that he “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17). Does “everything” include coffee? Paul also says, “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4-5). Again, does “everything” include coffee?
Given these biblical perspectives—and realizing that caffeine addiction or anything else that’s unhealthy simply won’t exist in Heaven—can you think of any persuasive reason why coffee trees and coffee drinking would not be in Heaven?
Will heaven have fewer resources for human enjoyment than Eden did or than this fallen world offers?
In Heaven, we will “drink . . . from the spring of the water of life” (Revelation 21:6). God will prepare for us “a banquet of aged wine . . . the finest of wines” (Isaiah 25:6). Not only will we drink water and wine, we’ll eat from fruit trees (Revelation 22:2), and there’s every reason to believe we’ll drink juice made from the twelve fruits from the tree of life. So, along with drinking water, wine, and fruit juice, is there any reason to suppose we wouldn’t drink coffee or tea? Can you imagine having a cup of coffee with Jesus in Heaven? If you can’t, why not?
If for health reasons you shouldn’t drink coffee now, then don’t. But aside from personal preference, the only compelling reason for not having coffee in Heaven would be if coffee were sinful or harmful. But it won’t be. If drinking coffee would be unspiritual in Heaven, then it must be unspiritual now. And unless someone’s a caffeine addict, under bondage to coffee and not to Christ, or if a person’s health is at stake, there’s simply no biblical basis for believing drinking coffee is sinful. Those who shouldn’t consume caffeine now will be freed from addiction in Heaven. Adverse health effects simply won’t exist.
Those who for reasons of allergies, weight problems, or addictions can’t regularly consume peanuts, chocolate, coffee, and wine—and countless other foods and drinks—may look forward to enjoying them in Heaven. To be free from sin, death, and bondage in Heaven will mean that we’ll enjoy more pleasures, not fewer.
*************************************************
Genesis 1:31a — God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
1 Timothy 6:17 — Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
1 Timothy 4:4 — For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.
*************************************************
A PRAYER BEFORE YOUR MORNING COFFEE:
Dear Lord, so far today I am doing all right.
I have not lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or self-indulgent. I have not whined, complained, cursed, or eaten any chocolate. I have not charged anything to my credit card.
I will be getting out of bed in a minute, and I think that I will really need your help then.
————————————–
