"I don't believe in an afterlife, so I don't have to spend my whole life fearing hell, or fearing heaven even more. For whatever the tortures of hell, I think the boredom of heaven would be even worse."
Isaac Asimov (1920 – 1992) was a scientist and one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards. He was best known for his science fiction works.
We are bored by the things that don't interest us. As wonderful as ballet might be, if you're not into that sort of thing, you will find it boring. The fault isn't found in ballet but in the one who lacks the capacity to fully appreciate it.
So it is with those who find the prospect of being in the presence of God, in all His glory, boring. The problem isn't with heaven, but with those who lack the capacity to fully appreciate it.
"But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:13).
Reality TV shows have become popular, partly because some of them take us to places where we have never been, vicariously experiencing things that we might never be able to do ourselves. Ever wonder what life is like in the swamps of Louisiana? Tune in to Swamp People. Wonder what life is like in the wilderness? Tune into Mountain Men. Ever wonder what it is like to drive a big rig over frozen lakes or rivers in Alaska or Canada? Then Ice Road Truckers is the show for you. These types of shows take us places where we might never go on our own, seeing things we never would have been able to see.
For many of us, life has become too mundane, too predictable. So we look for new adventures in the experiences of others. We become passive observers rather than active participants of our own great adventure. God can help us with this need. By yielding to God's will and following the promptings and leadings of the Holy Spirit into a life of service and ministry, God will take us to places we've never been.
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people" (Matthew 4:19)
Illustration Exchange
“Can you really be bored to death? In a commentary to be published in the International Journal of Epidemiology in April, experts say it's possible that the more bored you are, the more likely you are to die early. … ‘Someone who is bored may not be motivated to eat well, exercise and have a heart-healthy lifestyle. That may make them more likely to have a cardiovascular event,’ said Dr. Christopher Cannon, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard University and spokesman for the American College of Cardiology.
He also said if people's boredom was ultimately linked to depression, it wouldn't be surprising if they were more susceptible to heart attacks; depression has long been recognized as a risk factor for heart disease. Cannon also said it was possible that when people are bored, dangerous hormones are released in the body that stress the heart.”
“Boredom,” concluded one of the researchers, “is NOT innocuous.”
Boredom is anything but innocuous. It is perhaps the greatest symptom of a life without purpose, meaning, and spiritual motivation.