Hi Rick, here's a little different way to think about it. Right now we can only think of things that we know, we only have a tiny little glimpse of the heavenly realm... will we even need to 'space travel' around the universe? Would spirit beings actually need to 'travel/move' from place to place like the physical locomotion we have now?
This universe is so tremendously vast, I'm trying to think how you could actually go/travel around and view it. I mean the pictures we see on the universe shows are made so that we see vast pieces of the universe condensed into visible sections, with a whole galaxy (even many galaxies) in range of sight. The universe is so huge that at any point you can only see another planet as little 'star.' And the tv shows make a rapid sequence of something that happens over billions of years down into a few seconds of real time to see the 'action.' I'm wondering how we'll think and see things differently from the spiritual realm?
As we have only existed in this physical realm now, certainly the grandeur of this universe is truly magnificent and awesome to us. But I wonder about the spiritual realm and it's even greater vastness, certainly it far far exceeds all this we know in the physical... maybe like comparing eternity (spiritual) to our lifetime (physical) now? If you see what I mean, there's a great difference. So what I'm trying to say is when we enter the heavenly domain that might redirect our focus entirely? Not that this universe will be any less glorious, but right now I think we have a hard time thinking beyond this physical realm. But when our minds are connected/united with God then we will know so much that we can't understand now.
The earth will always be our place of origin/beginning, but maybe we will 'see' it differently then and think of things differently as well? Not only will our situation, when in the spiritual realm be so greatly expanded, but when we join and become one with God, of course our knowledge will increase exponentially as well with our new spiritual state of being. Maybe we will even view/see the whole universe (without traveling anywhere) from our new perspective in the spiritual realm?
So what is this creation/universe from God's perspective? "In Him all things consist" (Col 1:17) and "for in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).
I think when Christ returns and the elect are "raised incorruptible" that will bring about an instantaneous reassessment of things in our minds and in that split second our way of thinking and seeing things will dramatic change... it's begun now, but oh so slightly. Certainly at first as servants to God there will be much to keep us busy in the salvation of the rest of humanity, but certainly in the spiritual realm there will be so very much beyond that...
mercy, peace and love
Kat