Today is the day, or buy for when you die?

Last Saturday The Wild Way took part in the first ever Steveston Hub Market, and it was phenomenal.

There were eighteen vendors and hundreds of customers, and as one of the Hub founders, I got to share the story of three churches working together as the Hub many times throughout the day. After talking to two people (who were not church goers) about the desire of the Hub churches to build community and wellness in Steveston Village, they commented, "This is the way church should be."

As I observed the market, I also noticed the vendors who did the most sales were the ones who had had product people could buy that day and take with them (e.g. jewelry or baked goods). There were other vendors who had samples of their products with them, but then the customer had to order online. Quite a few customers browsed their goods, but ended up spending their money on something they could receive that day.

As I reflect on both the Market conversations and the buying habits of visitors, it makes me think of the way followers of Jesus often talk about salvation. (I run the risk of sounding like I'm equating salvation to a commercial transaction, which I'm not, so bear with me).

For the last couple of centuries, the church has often focused on the "what happens when you die" aspect of salvation. Look at most of the tracts and gospel invitation lessons form the past 100 years and you'll see that pop up again and again.

Don't get me wrong - "what happens when you die" is a crucial part of God's salvation plan for humanity, and it shouldn't be ignored. The issue is, salvation is also a "right now" experience, and sometimes we (the church) are a bit weak in sharing this. We talk about heaven one day, but we don't talk as much about restoration and healing right now.

God's salvation includes fractured relationships being reconciled today. It includes character growth and transformation today. It includes a renewed relationship with creation today. And it even includes broken hearts being mended today. Or tomorrow, or weeks / months / years from now.

Think of some of the words from the Gospels:

“TODAY salvation has come to this house..."
~ Jesus in Luke 19:9, when Zacchaeus demonstrated a changed heart

"TODAY this Scripture has been fulfilled..."
~ Jesus in Luke 4:21, referring to the Scripture about people experiencing freedom and liberty

“We have see extraordinary things TODAY...’”
~ the crowds in Luke 5:26, observing the ministry of Jesus

"TODAY you will be with me in paradise..."
~ Jesus to the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43, a reference to his imminent death

Point being, we don't have to wait until we die in order to experience God's salvation. It's not like ordering something online and waiting for it to arrive. Salvation, and many of the blessings of salvation, is a "product" the person can receive today.

PAUSE and REFLECT: There are two important truths for us to grasp. First, what is your understanding of your salvation? Are you simply waiting for blessing when you die? Or are you pressing in to all the goodness and promises of your salvation today?

Second, think back to the last time you shared the gospel with someone? What was your "selling point"? If it was going to heaven when you die, you weren't wrong, but if we focus on that alone we are woefully incomplete in presenting the fullness of God's salvation.

Again, in the effort to stick to the metaphor, I'm running the risk of sounding like I'm commercializing salvation. Again, I'm not. I fully realize we do not purchase it; we can only receive it as a gracious gift from God. But sometimes when we share the good news we present it as "buy for when you die," and that is simply too weak a view of what Jesus accomplished through his death and resurrection.

If TODAY is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2), and if salvation is for transformation TODAY (as well as when you die), where might God be inviting you to press in to his love and power TODAY?

Going back to those persons' comments about "this is the way church should be," it was because they saw something going on that was blessing Steveston that day.

May each one of us also look to experience and live out of God's salvation today, and every day.

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