Humor me for just a moment and tap into the recesses of your mind. Without looking, go back to the last time you were in your living room. Envisioning your living area, count how many lamps are currently displayed. Now take a journey in your mind into your kitchen. Open your refrigerator and see if you can remember how much milk you have left.
You may be saying to yourself, “why are you asking me all of these questions?” To prove this point: the things that we are most familiar with are often the things that we take for granted. For Christians that have been followers of Christ for most of their lives, my concern is that we all too often overlook the awe of God’s grace that has been afforded to us. And that, perhaps, is the biggest tragedy.
In the book of Colossians, the Apostle Paul defends the sufficiency of our salvation by appealing to the preeminence of Christ. The word “preeminence” means “superior; above all else.” When used in the context of our salvation, it means that “Christ Alone” is the foundation of our salvation. In other words, our salvation is complete in “Christ Alone” and nothing else.
But the Apostle Paul makes an interesting statement in Colossians 1:13 that I believe gives us a new “sense of awe” when it comes to our salvation. In Colossians 1:13 the Apostle Paul notes the fact that in Christ, we have been transferred from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of God. But notice how Paul words it, he doesn’t say “Kingdom of God” he refers to it as “the kingdom of His dear son”.
Is the wording really that big of a deal? Absolutely. Let’s discover why.
We see an interesting conversation occur with Jesus in John 6. In John 6:37 Jesus states: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” As you continue through that chapter and drop down to verse 44, Jesus states: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
What we see here is that the Father gave the Kingdom to His Son, Jesus. This is why Paul makes the reference in Colossians as the Kingdom being “the Kingdom of His dear Son”. What Jesus is stating to the people back in John 6 is that the Father draws those whom He has ultimately chosen, into the Kingdom of His Son, as a “love gift” to His Son. As Christians, we are “love gifts” from the Father to His Son. How awesome is that?
We don’t deserve any of this. We don’t deserve a relationship with God, but based upon the grace of God through Jesus Christ, we are afforded an opportunity to restore our relationship with the Father. We are drawn to the Father and then given to the Son as a “love gift”. This shows purpose. This shows value. This shows possession.
Today, may we live with a new sense of “awe” and appreciation for our salvation. May we rejoice in the fact that in our salvation, we are not just a number with Jesus. We are a love gift. Jesus cares for us beyond human compression and there is nothing that can change our relationship or the thoughts of Jesus towards His love gifts. That, my friend, is perhaps the most comforting truth of all.