1 Peter 2:9. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light….
Colossians 1:13. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son….
Ephesians 1:13-14. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.2 Corinthians 3:18. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

When we first experience salvation ‘by grace through faith’, we enter into a fullness of joy such as we have never known, yet our future is wrapped up in a mystery. We wonder what lies ahead of us along the pathway of life now that we have become a believer in Jesus.

It is easy to imagine that, having been ‘called….out of darkness’ or ‘rescued….from the domain of darkness’ we must simply await our ultimate destiny of going to be with Jesus in heaven at life’s close. Being brought ‘into His marvelous light’ is truly a life changing experience. Some feel drawn to enter some form of ministry. However, for most, the Christian life and walk will consist of joining with other believers in a pattern of church attendance and activities that follows the well-worn path of tradition. Looking back, the writer’s perspective was very much along those lines.

If we will give meaning to what the life of every believer should consist of we must seek from the Scriptures the wisdom of God concerning this all important question. We might start with what God has given us through our new birth entry into the kingdom. Eternal life may have been the substance of it, yet what was the means through which this came to us? Ephesians 1:13 tells us that ‘having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise’.

Because of sin we individually, and indeed all mankind, became orphaned from God. Now, ‘The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God….’ Romans 8:16. We are now part of God’s eternal family in Christ. We are part of His one body, the church. As members we are journeying in company with others. Our mission individually and collectively is stated to be ‘that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him’.

Ephesians 5:8. ‘….for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light’. When we were rescued ‘from the domain of darkness’ we were called to come out of the world system ruled over by Satan and to participate in it no longer. Here lies the problem for many, for any ‘system’ on earth has its foundation in hell. By definition, that which was referred to earlier as ‘the well-worn path of tradition’ is a system devised and established by man. As Jesus declared to the Roman governor, Pilate, ‘My kingdom is not of this world’. John 18:36.

From the time when God gave the Holy Spirit to dwell in each individual believer and to be Lord over all gatherings of His people He, the Holy Spirit, will direct and oversee the carrying out of the full will of God whenever and wherever Jesus is accorded His rightful place of Lordship and control. 2 Corinthians 3:18 describes the splendour of such gatherings unto Jesus so well. ‘But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit’.

God’s intention is that each individual believer and company of His own be led by ‘the Lord, the Spirit’ out of every vestige of the worldly things into the fullness of enjoyment of the kingdom of heaven. Thus, when our time comes to be forever with Jesus, we will have been transformed into His perfect likeness and will pass through the veil that hides Him into the full vision of Who He really is; as if walking from the kitchen into the dining room in our home; from the place of preparation into the fullness of enjoyment of what has been made ready.

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