The Heaven Answer Book

Why doesn’t God take us to Heaven the minute we commit our lives to Christ?

I f God were to take all those He immediately saves to Heaven, He would not be true to His Word. Jesus said, “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). This is the heavenly design for the body of Christ—the church. Jesus told His disciples, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:8 esv ). Earth isn’t Heaven’s waiting room where we idly sit until departure time. Earth is a dramatic stage displaying good and evil; Christ’s victory over Satan’s deception; Heaven’s glory over the gore of Hell. We are part of this divine drama. As long as we are on this earth, God’s purpose is for us to bring honor and glory to Him by the way we live and work, so that we can win souls for His kingdom.

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What Difference Does Heaven Make?