Every wonder why, if God loves us so much…

Why doesn’t God immediately take us to live with Him in heaven once we have come to trust Him by putting our faith in the finished work of the Cross?  Why make us endure this present evil world [Galatians 1:4] we currently live in?

To the natural mind, I don’t think such a question would ever occur [1 Corinthians 2:14].  Even to a believer’s mind, such a thought might not occur.  But, after 40+ years of being a believer, I’ve started mulling it over, and below are my thoughts.  Right or wrong, valid or totally off-base, they are my understanding on the subject.

Therefore, I’m thinking the reason we have been left here is to learn the right way (God’s righteous way) [Romans 12:2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17] to think and act, and then live [Acts 17:28; Galatians 2:20] in and out of that knowledge and wisdom with others in a manner that is pleasing [Colossians 1:10] and acceptable [cf Romans 12:1] to God, thus serving Christ with our spirit, soul and body.  Our life on earth is a proving ground [2 Corinthians 13:5] for that Examination Day, that day we stand before the Lord at the Judgment seat of Christ [Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10] and give an account of our actions...or lack thereof.

~So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. [Romans 14:12]

Paul, our pattern

While the Apostle Paul is our example [1 Timothy 1:16], it was the very Son of God, Jesus, who put on display [“shewed”] all through His earthly ministry exactly how a son was to think, act, and live in a positive response to a father: serving in complete obedience.

~For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

~And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [John 6:38; Philippians 2:8]

Do we follow Jesus? Or Paul?

God, in His grace and mercy, chose to save Saul, also called Paul [Acts 13:9]. At the moment of the salvation of Saul's soul from the fires of hell, the only thing Paul had was his justification [Romans 5:9] and sanctification [1 Corinthians 6:11]  and that was:  the salvation of his soul from the fires of hell. Where would we be today if Paul, upon being justified unto eternal life, had immediately been whisked off the earth, caught up to heaven without being taught of God [Galatians 1:12] about the mystery [Ephesians 3:3] that had been hid in God since the beginning of the world? [cf Ephesians 3:9]

Just as the Son of God came to earth as a child [Isaiah 9:6], born of a woman and named Jesus [Luke 1:31], He too (in accordance with God's wisdom and eternal purpose [Ephesians 3:11]) needed time to "grow in stature and wisdom." Therefore likewise, Saul (who is now a new creature [2 Corinthians 5:17], and a babe in Christ [Hebrews 5:13]) also needed to be 'taught of God' [1 Thessalonians 4:9]...and that took time through visions and revelations of the Lord [2 Corinthians 12:1]: he needed much more knowledge, wisdom and understanding [Proverbs 4:5, 7]  if he was going to say to you and me: "Follow me as I follow Christ." [1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1]

Without that due process of time wherein Paul could be taught by God [2 Cor 12;1], we would not have the 13 epistles written to us Gentiles, which is for our doctrine, our reproof, our correction, our instruction in righteousness, rightly divided [2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2:15]. Paul's faithful sharing [1 Corinthians 9:16] of all God's faithful sayings [including 1 Timothy 1:15; 4:9; 2 Timothy 2:11; Titus 3:8] is meant for our receiving [Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:13], reading [1 Timothy 4:13], studying [2 Timothy 2:15] and responding appropriately by considering [2 Timothy 2:7] and then believing [Romans 10:10]. When we do, we too will increase in spiritual wisdom and stature...and equally important, in favor with God.  [cf 1 Corinthians 3:9-15]

You see, without the opportunity afforded in the due process of time diligently studying our bible, we would not have a way to grow and exercise ourselves unto godliness [1 Timothy 4:7]; thus becoming His adult children—sons and daughters, equipped to be about our Father's business [Luke 2:49; 1 Corinthians 12:6] serving Him by ruling and reigning as joint-heirs with Christ as the sons of God in the heavenlies!  No longer simply the children of God, but as the manifested sons of God. [Romans 8:20]

Our Father is a business man with children

Without growth taking place in the child of God [Romans 8:16], and then them walking honestly [Romans 13:13] in their sanctification (the higher calling [Philippians 3:14]), there is no hope for them to be more than servants [Galatians 4:1] in their glorious liberty [Romans 8:21]  in the heavenlies. Upon examination, they will suffer loss [1 Corinthians 3:13-15]. they will not qualify as fully educated and edified adult sons and, therefore, cannot function in the capacity of a joint-heir being about their Father's business. [1 Corinthians 3:9]   

Luke 2:49

~ And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my father’s business?...

 

(Please, please, don’t take me wrong here!  Having the privilege of being an heir, a child of God, destined to serve Him for all eternity is awesome, beyond anything we can imagine!  It won't be drudgery, as work on earth can get sometimes.  It will be glorious!  All will praise God continually throughout eternity in their service and worship of Him to whom all honor and glory is due: the very one who saved them, the Lord Jesus Christ!  To God be the glory!!)

As heirs (children) desiring to become His adult sons and daughters (joint heirs), we too, as Job, must esteem His word [Job 23:1], and put ourselves in a position to hear [Proverbs 2:2] and learn God's word to us today.  Questions are important [Proverbs 2:3, 5] as they show we have an interest in the things of God [cf Psalm 34:18; 51:17; Isaiah 57:15; 66:2].  We must be as the Bereans [Acts 17:11] and search out what we hear as to whether it lines up with what God has said in his word of truth, rightly divided. [Romans 3:4; 2 Timothy 2:15].

Proverbs 2:1-6

~My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

  So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

  Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

  If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

  Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

  For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

God loves us so much that He has left us here for a reason and a purpose  

In addition to making known the grace of God to both realms of God (heaven and earth [Genesis 1:1]), we are left here to build up our inner man so as to suffer with Christ [Philippians 2:5-8; 2 Timothy 2:12]  all the while waiting with patient endurance [Romans 12:11-12] for that blessed hope [Titus 2: 12-14], our being caught away on that grand and glorious Day! [1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17]

Again, these are simply my thoughts, for what they are worth to anybody.  I don’t claim to be a skilled writer.  I wish I was, because to put my thoughts down in even a semi-intelligible manner is a chore. If you can see even a glimmer of value in what I’ve shared here, I encourage you to consider the words of God [Romans 3:4] I’ve provided to establish my position.  Feel free to leave any comments or questions if you’d like to discuss, or even challenge my thinking.  I welcome any discussion on this.

If you aren't able to see my reasonings, that’s okay, it's the sole responsibility of each of us to be persuaded in our own mind [Romans 14:5b] .  Our thoughts are to be based upon scripture—God’s wisdom, as much as is in us.  Any thinking not based on the solid Rock is groundless [Matthew 7:25-27]: nothing more than vain imaginations [Romans 1:21] according to the worldly wisdom of man [1 Corinthian 2:13; 3:19].   Someday we’ll have perfect understanding--I look forward to that day.  In the meantime, I will continue to delight in, and mine out, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God [cf Romans 11:33]…rightly divided! 

Got thoughts on why God didn’t whisk us off to heaven upon believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour??   I’d love to hear your comments. 

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In case you wonder about why I have so many scripture references, let me just say this…

When I started studying the bible, rightly divided, guided [Acts 8:30-31]  by apt men who believed and taught the grace message, I had many many questions come to my mind as to why did they say that?  Rather than resisting what they said (or outright rejecting in a knee-jerk fashion) simply because I’d never heard such a thing taught in denominational churches, I searched it out [Acts 17:11], I asked questions.   Over time as I became familiar with the scriptures, I came to know where they got what they said or why they said what they did.  I know I can trust what the scriptures say:  the Holy Ghost teaches and the Lord gives the understanding when we study God’s word according to his prescribed method of study.

1 Corinthians 2:13

~Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

2 Timothy 2:7

~Consider what I [Paul] say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

2 Timothy 2:15

~Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

As a result, when I put forth my thoughts, I like to give my scriptural basis for saying what I do. 

God’s word in English as found in the King James Bible has become my Final Authority.  It is the solid ground I stand on and put my faith in: the word of truth, the knowledge of God, that which has proceeded out of the mouth of God and perfectly preserved for our learning and edification.

Thank you for reading and considering.

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All scripture references are from the King James Bible, emphasis mine.