Salvation

Scripture Verse that caught my attention today: Romans 13:11 Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers;

Observation: “salvation is nearer to us now…?”

Application: This statement by Paul is interesting. And I think it’s true. Salvation is to be saved. And there are many things from which we need to be saved. We can be saved from self-interest, saved from doubt, saved from insecurity, saved from excess pride, saved from co-dependency, saved from addictions great and small, saved from relationship struggles, saved from less-than-meaningful employment, saved from financial ruin, saved from foolishness, saved from arrogance, saved from violence and/or abuse, etc., etc., etc…not to mention saved from the powers of evil and life without God. All this and more is salvation.

Paul says that this salvation is nearer now than when we first became believers. It’s true. In Christ we have what I might call, partial salvation. It’s like a large download that is in process and we just don’t quite know how many minutes are remaining. Yet in some ways the salvation is already complete. We are in Christ. At the same time the salvation is not yet complete. There is more work to be done in and through us, as the list in the above paragraph makes perfectly clear. So complete salvation is not here yet. But it is getting closer with each and every passing day.

Prayer: Lord, your work in and through us continues. Help us to be open to what you are doing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scripture Readings today included: Proverbs 19-21 and Romans 13)