The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “Use every part of your body to give glory back to God” (TLB).

Many people—including some Christians—have a big misconception about heaven. They think that when you get to heaven, you’ll kick back and eat bon-bons, wear a white robe, play a harp, and float on clouds. But none of those things are in the Bible!

So what are you going to do for all those trillions of years when you get to heaven?

God has plans for you to serve in heaven. You’ll have work—enjoyable things you’ll do in service to God. And your time on earth is practice for that.

If you hope God will give you a place of serious service in eternity, you can’t spend your time on earth just living for yourself.

Imagine if all through life you just sit on the bench, saying, “I live for me.” Then, when you get to heaven, you say, “Okay, God, take me off the bench and put me on the A team. Let me serve you now.” God will say, “Forget it. What serving skills did you develop with your time on earth? You have no serving ability.”

God wants you to understand that right now is your chance to get ready for the real thing. You’ll take to heaven only two things: your character and your skills. You’re not going to take any of your money or possessions. You’re not going to take a single material thing to heaven.

So don’t waste your time on what you can’t take with you. Instead, spend your time developing your serving skills and building your character to be more like Jesus.

How are you using your talents for God? Or are you using all your talents on yourself? God wants you to serve him well here on earth and forever in heaven.