Salvation is Now

*Picture taken of burning a list of "trials" I wanted to let go of

A Practice in Listening to the Inner Voice of Love 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

—1 Peter 1:3-9

Beloved,

How can you love my beloved Son if you haven’t seen him? How can you believe and rejoice? Because you are already experiencing the salvation of your soul. Christ is already coming to fullness in you. Christ is already being given to the world through you. Christ is already being revealed to you by others.

Yes, you will suffer various trials during your lifetime. But my living hope, embodied in and around you, pushes through. My living hope is enduring, making your spirit imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. You have been born into the eternal; I, the Eternal God, keep and protect you.

Beloved, I even use your suffering for my good. I use suffering to prepare and refine you—like gold being tested by fire—so that you may receive my love completely. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting (1 Corinthians 15:55)? I have even made death an instrument for crafting my beauty.

—Love