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"Why don't we go to heaven as soon as we are saved?"
Why
don't we go to heaven as soon as we are saved?
Ephesians
2:8, 9 says, “For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the
gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should
boast. For we are his workmanship, CREATED IN
CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them.”
Yes,
we may wish that God would immediately take us to heaven when we get saved, but when God
gives us a new life, He also wants to use us here for a time. Would you buy a new car, and then just park it in a
protected garage and leave it there? No, you
buy a car to use
it. Even though by doing so the car will get
dirty; will be subjected to bumps and dents; will gradually have parts wear out; etc.,
that is what comes with the purpose of that car. If
used for the Lord and in His will, that car will only fulfill its true purpose if it is
actually used
in service
— not just protected
in your garage.
It
is the same with us. The Bible says that when
we got saved we were, “CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them.” That
is a purpose that God has for our lives after we get saved — to do good works and
live holy and righteous lives. 1 Peter 1:13-16
says, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for
the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves
according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But
as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am
holy.”
When
a company hires
you, it does not immediately then retire
you with full benefits. A good company may
have that plan down the road, but, first, there is work to do. When we get saved, we have a wonderful promise of
heaven and mansions. John 14:1-6 says, “Let
not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it
were not
so,
I
would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you
unto myself; that where I am, there
ye
may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the
way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we
know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me.” That is a
wonderful promise that we have waiting for us, but in the meantime, God has a job for us
to do. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 says, “Therefore if any man be
in
Christ, he
is a
new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are
of
God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry
of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in
Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and
hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now
then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you
by
us: we pray you
in
Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
So,
God does have some wonderful promises ahead for those who get saved; but in the
meantime… we have a lot of work that needs to be done.
