Darrell Cosden has written a book on work called The Heavenly Good of Earthly Work. Taking cues from Jurgen Moltmann, Cosden argues that the actual work we do will persist into heaven. To begin this fascinating proposal, Cosden looks to the resurrection of Jesus. Noting that Jesus' post-resurrection appearances reveal the scars from the cross (see John 20.27; Rev. 5.6), Cosden says,
We have made an imprint on Jesus' (God's) eternal physical body. And since this body, still containing those scars, is now ascended back into the Godhead, the results of at least this particular 'human work' are guaranteed to carry over into God's as well as our own future and eternal reality. (59)
From this starting point, Cosden builds a convincing case that human work will somehow endure into eternity, albeit in a transformed state. This is a book worth reading, particularly given Am. Christianity's tendency to reduce redemption to soul saving.
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Cosden basically turned his PhD thesis into a monograph and then into this book. I got to interact with him some when he was publishing the monograph. He has robustly contributed to the work and faith discussion.
I agree. I first heard Cosden when he presented at GCTS (this was fall '02). Were you there? I was blown away when I first heard his proposal, and I am glad he put into a more readable version with "The Heavenly Good..."
Do you know where he is now? He is no longer listed as a staff member at ICC.
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