Will you know my name when I see you in heaven?

People have often wondered if they will run into family and friends once they enter the pearly gates, and I must admit that I have also fallen prey to that thought, but in actuality, once we enter heaven our family and friends will be far from our minds. The only thing that will occupy our minds is knowing that we are in the presence of the one, true, holy God, and everything else will be of no importance, not little, but no importance. I read the following explanation at www.gotquestions.org. It is a wonderful site created to answer practically every Christian question there is to ask.

Question: "Will we be able to see and know our friends and family members in Heaven?"Answer: Many people state that the first thing they want to do when they arrive in Heaven is see all their friends and loved ones who had passed on before them. I do not think this will be the case. Yes, I do believe we will be able to see, know, and spend time with our friends and family members in Heaven. In eternity, there will be plenty of time for that. However, I do not think that will be our primary focus in Heaven. I believe we will be far more occupied with worshipping God and enjoying the wonders of Heaven to be concerned with being reunited with our loved ones right away.

What does the Bible say about whether we will be able to see and know our loved ones in Heaven? When David’s infant son died as a result of David’s sin with Bathsheba, after his time of grief David declared, “But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). David assumed that he would be able to recognize his son in heaven, despite the fact that he died as a baby. The Bible declares that when we arrive in Heaven, we will “be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 describes our resurrection bodies: “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”

Just as our earthly bodies were of the first man Adam (1 Corinthians 15:47a) so will our resurrection bodies be just like Christ’s (1 Corinthians 15:47b). “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:49,53). Many people recognized Jesus after His resurrection (John 20:16, 20; 21:12; 1 Corinthians 15:4-7). So, if Jesus was recognizable in His resurrection body, I see no reason to believe that ours will be any different. Being able to see our loved ones is a glorious aspect of Heaven – but Heaven is far more about God, and far less about our own wants. What a pleasure it will be to be reunited with our loved one, and worship God with our loved ones for all eternity.