May is bursting with celebrations of life. My calendar has marked three birthdays, two anniversaries, several graduations, Mother’s Day, even celebrations of lives well-lived. Father’s Day will soon be here. As will Memorial Day. Nature is bursting with life, too. In only a few days over the weekend, irises unfolded, the peonies began to show pink and red cracks in their buds, rhododendron bushes drooped heavy with blossom, and many flower beds suddenly sprouted joyful colors of all types of annuals.

I’ve been thinking, though, that I am guilty of taking many of these things for granted. Why wait for someone’s birthday to ponder how much we love and appreciate them? Why have only one day a year when we celebrate mothers and fathers and those who have paid a heavy price for our country’s freedom? Why do I so often run past the glories of nature and the balm they offer my soul when it is weary?

Likewise, in this new life I now live, the Spirit has gently nudged me to celebrate every day. Because Jesus’ salvation changes everything.

For many years, I thought salvation was only about being spared from eternal punishment after I die. Once I settled that question, though, I went plodding along through life—and not much changed. Phrases like those in 1 Peter 2—that tell us since we’ve tasted God’s kindness to cry out for the full experience of salvation—well, phrases like that puzzled me and I’d just skip over them.

But salvation, the full experience, changes everything. God’s plan for rescue goes so much further than just a different verdict on judgment day! His plan is meant to affect every aspect and every moment, from right now on to judgment day and far beyond.

That’s what Peter was talking about when he wrote about crying out for the full experience. And I want it!

It all started with the wonderful rescue:

For he [the Father] has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness
and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Colossians 1:13, 14

That is cause for celebration! We understand the forgiveness of sins and the ransom Jesus paid for us. We are so grateful for that.

But this week, let’s celebrate the first part of those verses. We have been moved from one kingdom to another. We have been given a new life and a new identity. And we want to grow into and experience our new reality—to the fullest!

The Scriptures are full of statements of truth about our new identity and this new place we live. These are the results of our salvation*:

Once you were God’s enemies, but now you are His children.

Once you were separated from God because of your evil thoughts and actions, but now you are holy and blameless and stand before Him without a single fault.

Once you were dead, but now God has given you a new life—with heavenly dimensions!

Once you deserved God’s anger, but now His mercy has forgiven you.

Once you were a lost sheep who wandered away, but now you are safe in the care of the Shepherd, the Guardian of your soul.

Once you had no identity, but now you are God’s people.

Once you were slaves to sin, but now you are free from that slavery and are slaves to righteous living.

Once you were full of darkness, bit now you have light from the Lord that produces what is good and true.

And one that sums up everything: Once you lived without God and without hope, but now you live in the presence of the God of all hope.

What a change has been wrought in our lives because Jesus rescued us! No wonder Peter wrote, “Now we live with great expectation…”

Celebrate that life. Every day. Don’t take it for granted. Live in your new reality, the new truths of your life.

And let’s cry out to the Father for the nourishment that will grow us into the full experience of what His salvation means.

* * *

What is your “Once I was… but now…” declaration? Would you share it with us in the Comments section? Don’t agonize over trying to come with up a perfectly crafted sentence. Just let us know what one thing immediately comes to mind as you think about what it has meant to your life because Jesus rescued you.

I’ll start us off. Here’s the first one I thought of:  Once I was afraid of God, but now He is the fountain of all life for me.

Oh… and another close second: Once I was terrified of the future, but now I am secure in my Shepherd’s arms.

Let’s celebrate our salvation!

 

 

* From: Colossians 1:21, 22; Ephesians 2:1-6; 1 Peter 2:25; 1 Peter 2:10; Romans 6:17, 18; Ephesians 2:12,13; Ephesians 5:8; Ephesians 2:12; Acts 26:18