Joy of Salvation

Joy of Salvation

Have these words lost their meaning to you?

Have you taken salvation for granted?

I grew up hearing Jesus saves.

The word salvation was very common.

It was as familiar as your right hand,

or in my brother Dan’s case left hand.

 We take little thought to it

when we pick up a pen and write.

Your hand is not something

you would give up.

It holds an unbelievable value;

yet, we take it for granted.

Over the last few weeks,

I have been thinking of how much

salvation means to us on a daily bases.

Knowing I do not have to worry

about what will happen to me when I die

removes a lot of stress.

Knowing I have a glorious eternal hope

brings me a wonderful feeling.

At Cedar Point Amusement Park,

 there is a ride called the Demon Drop.

This ride takes you slowly up in the air

and then drops you in a free fall.

My life is a ride like that…

I feel good about life;

enjoy the ride,

catching the view,

as life seems to get better.

Than without warning things change…

and my heart drops in a free fall to my stomach.

Life has its ups and downs

making it hard to “be joyful continually”.

Salvation we received through Jesus’ death

is like a helmet.

Even when life seems like it is going to crash,

we have hope.

Our thoughts are filled with assurance

that whether we are asleep or awake

we are with the Lord.

So for the last few weeks

I have been thanking God for salvation,

thinking more about salvation,

and talking more about salvation.

All this focus on salvation has increased my joy…

 I am sorry I ever took it for granted.  

Scripture Reading

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

16 Be joyful always;

17 pray continually;

18 give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God's will

for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:8-11 NIV

…and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath

but to receive salvation

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

10 He died for us so that,

whether we are awake or asleep,

we may live together with him.

11 Therefore encourage one another

and build each other up,

just as in fact you are doing.