Why are we left behind?

This may seem to be a strange title for this subject matter due to certain popular “Christian” books, but it really is appropriate. After we are converted, born-again, saved, come to know Christ; why does God, generally, leave us here on this earth? When we experience salvation we are complete in Christ, trusting wholly in His redemptive work for our salvation. So why doesn’t God immediately take us to be with Him forever? May I suggest that we take a look into scripture for an answer to this question.

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Hebrews 10:14

1. The first point that came to my mind was that God has chosen the preaching of His Word to spread the gospel for the salvation of men.

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Corinthians 1:17-18

2. Our lives were designed to bring glory and honor to God from the beginning. When God saves us and frees us from the law, He has set us free to do what we should be doing anyway “Obeying and serving Him.” The faith that God has created in us, He also sustains. In our frail human weakness His strength and faithfulness are shown to be true to an unbelieving world.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9

3. God has saved us for a purpose. His purpose, not yours or mine. A portion of this purpose includes making disciples, teaching them to obey what Christ has commanded. We are to show to the world a love that they do not know nor can they comprehend. We are called to mature in Christ – to become like Him.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16

Spiritual growth is not an option, rather it is a requirement. As one of God’s elect, when God is finished with you here He will take you to be with Him. The Bible knows nothing of vacationing or retiring from Christianity. You are either in full time Christian service until death, or you never were one of His.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Philippians 3:12-15

This is not meant in any way to be an exhaustive treatment of this topic, or else this would be a book not a blog. Take time to search out your own heart. Are you obeying what you know from God’s Word? Are you seeking to follow Christ with all your heart through the power of the Spirit?

REJOICING IN REFINING

A dear brother preached a short message one recent Sunday morning. Such a simple message it was. But oh who deep the simple truth can cut-right to the heart, my own heart. When we go through testing, when we are squeezed, put under pressure--what comes out of my heart? Do I rejoice as the impurities come to the surface? Do I gladly ask the Master to skim of the dross or do I excuse it, hide it, stir it back in?

The Lord placed in my heart a simple poem and prayer. I don't normal share things like this, but I have felt impressed to do so.

Oh Lord, lay me bare,
Let me not cling to the unclean sin there.
Take my heart make it pure,
Let my desire be to love, not just endure.
As you make me to die to self,
Making me fit for eternity’s wealth.
Tear my grip on this life of mine,
Gladly surrender it to my Lord divine.
Others will see as I am put to the test,
Am I really different from the rest?
Take my self righteous pride,
And show me what’s really inside
Purify my heart and all of me
Let my life give glory only to THEE!

Rejoice as God shows you things that must be abandon. Follow the Lord-pursue holiness.

1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.