Why is it that we are not taken directly to heaven when we get saved? Why are we nearly always left down here for a while? Here are five reasons that God has revealed to me to answer these questions. First, we are left down her to be his witnesses (Acts 1:8). What do witnesses do? They testify. We are down here to testify with our lives and lips to a dark, lost, hurting world that the Gospel is really all true. And that its redemptive power is available to anyone with a heart to receive it. Second, we are left down here to be His ambassadors (II Corinthians 5:20). What do ambassadors do? They represent. We are left down here for a while to represent God and His Kingdom to the kingdoms of the world. Third, we are left down here to be royal priests (I Peter 2:9). What do royal priests do? They minister. We are left down her to minister the love, light, and life of the Living God to the world. Fourth, we are left down here to be His sanctified specimens (I Thessalonians 4:3, 4). What do sanctified specimens of God do? They demonstrate. We are left down here to demonstrate to a lost world what holy, righteous living looks and feels like. Fifth, we are left down here to be His agents (Matthew 6:33). What do agents do? They represent the interests of their clients. We are left down here to represent God’s interests on this planet by clearly seeking His Kingdom and righteousness with our lives.
Final thought: get saved and then live saved.