Transplanted

 On one of the lovely warm days we had last week, I transplanted a couple of plants from my outdoor planters into pots and brought them inside.  There is a Rex begonia with large colourful leaves that at least doubled in size over the summer.  And also a mandevilla with deep red flowers that has continued to stretch out its tendrils and produce gorgeous blooms all summer.  Even while we were away for two weeks in September, with no care and no water, both plants survived and did well.

Yesterday morning, as I was sitting on my couch and deriving some pleasure from looking at these plants looking so vibrant and healthy in my living room, the thought came to me that we are God's "transplants". Colossians 1:13 & 14 tells us "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins".  In Ephesians 2:1-7, we learn that the place where we once were was "in trespasses and sins".  Then there is that lovely little phrase in verse 4:  "But God".  It says, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses made us alive together with Christ" and look where His transplanting took us:  raised up "in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus".

I felt a small degree of pleasure looking at my plants, but have a look at heaven's celebration over each new transplant.  Jesus told His followers that there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.  It doesn't say the angels have the joy, but that there is joy in their presence.  So it's our God, and our Jesus who are celebrating each time someone is transplanted into Their kingdom.

In the three parables of Luke 15, there is always joy when the lost is found.  The shepherd leaves his 99 sheep to go look for the one lonely, lost, frightened sheep, and "when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing."  The woman loses her valuable silver coin and searches through her whole house, but when she finds it, "she calls her friends and neighbours together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!'"  And when the lost prodigal son comes home, his father, in his great joy, throws a big party to celebrate.

In fact, Jesus endured all that He went through because He was aware of the joy He saw coming as a result (Hebrews 12:2).   

There is joy at the time of our transplanting, but God continues to enjoy us as He looks at us decorating His kingdom.  Psalm 149:4 tells us "the LORD takes pleasure in His people" and Psalm 35:27 says, "Let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant".  (That's the "shalom" kind of prosperity, also translated as "well-being", "welfare" and "peace".)

Be aware, as you go about your day and as you settle down to sleep, that God has joy and delight because of you!  Know that you are His transplant, securely set into His kingdom!