Thomas a Kempis says you cannot be happy both here and in heaven; how should we understand that?
A viewer notes that The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis says one cannot have it both ways, being happy here and also later in heaven, and asks how we should understand it.
Answer
It depends on what he means. If he meant we can have no happiness at all here, we would have to disagree, because even Thomas a Kempis would grant that there are moments of happiness: the birth of a child, a wedding, a father's ninetieth birthday. What he means is true, continual, uninterrupted happiness. Even those moments at a birthday or a wedding are short-lived, because tomorrow is another day and may bring sorrow; as Jesus said, do not worry about tomorrow, for today has troubles enough of its own. This is not our ideal state; if it were, and it went on for eternity, I would not want it. Do not think the rich are exempt: money corrupts the mind, and the rich worry constantly about keeping their money and matching the Joneses, so I do not think a rich man has a truly happy day in his life. You may be blessed with many good days, but you will also go through tragedy, and you cannot look to tomorrow in this life and know it will be happy. That is the continual happiness Thomas is speaking of, and it belongs to heaven.