Relocated, Forgiven, Loved

I know people who have tried to get past a difficult time in their lives by relocating across the country. After unloading the moving truck, they stand in front of a mirror and -- lo and behold! -- there they are, with the same problems and worries they had before. (It's called "pulling a geographic" and it never works.) But God has "relocated" us in a way that does work! How's that? 

"He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred (relocated) us into the Kingdom of his dear Son..." (Col. 1:13). Not because of something we did, whether belief or baptism or some form of obedience, but God has done this for us, through what Jesus did when he joined us in human flesh, died for us then was raised out of the tomb and re-joined the Father on his throne.

"...through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross"  (Col. 1:20). This happened 2,000 years ago, dear reader, so whether you knew it or not, when you were born you were already connected with God through Jesus. The Greek here refers to bringing together into a peaceful relationship, parties who were previously at odds. This chapter explains that Jesus was fully God (verse 19) so what Jesus did, God did -- and because Jesus was also human, he brings all of us into that same love relationship with the Father. That's why Paul can write in verse 22, "As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault." It's not what you have done, it's what Jesus has done, and it's a done deal.

That also means we are already live in the reality of "God's Kingdom" (see verse 13 again). What is the "kingdom?" In the Greek, and in New-Testament usage, that refers to wherever God's will is being felt. The Holy Spirit's job, of course, is to lead and prompt us to do God's will -- so our lives in Christ, every day, are a journey, in God's kingdom, to grow into maturity in Christ (Gal. 4:19, etc.).

Doesn't that sound like true good news?  It's sure not the bad-news-maybe-good-news idea peddled by some! God is reminding you today that you've already been relocated, you are already loved, forgiven and fully accepted, and the adventure is already beginning. Who do you know, who needs to find out about this wonderful news? It's really that simple!