All Things New

As I mentioned in my previous post, the anniversary of my new birth falls on Thanksgiving this year. I love it when that happens! I would love to tell the whole story right now about how I came to know the Lord, but it;s a long story. I hope to write it out someday. Today, I would like to tell part of the story. I think it’s a pretty cool part.

I came to Christ and out of the domain of darkness (Colossians 1:13) in the darkness. What I mean is, it was night time. That night, after I was given eyes to see the sacrifice for my sins in Jesus’ death and my heart was opened to believe in him, I was filled with incredible joy. It came upon me suddenly and stayed into the early hours of the morning. I stayed up late talking with my husband who was my fiancé at that time. I remember being elated and at the same time being filled with great peace. I was also affected physically. The peace was so great, my body was heavy. The joy was so great, I couldn’t stop smiling. It was quite a remarkable experience. And while this is the case, it was not the experience that authored my faith or sustained it through the years. It was and always has been my Lord.

When I awoke later that same morning, the joy was still with me. I was rejoicing in the knowledge that God was real and that he loved me, forgave me, and saved me. I remember being acutely aware of the sun’s light shining into my room as I was getting up. It was bright and warm. Eventually I happened to look outside through a window. I was taken aback by what I saw. The trees and the grass and the sky were alive with vibrant and intense colors. Everything was so beautiful! But it was not just beautiful. It was different. Everything looked truly different from the day before or from any other day before that. In all my life, I had never seen colors like what I saw that morning. It was as if a filter had been removed from my eyes.

In my amazement, I went from window to window looking at the colors. The sun was shining brightly. Really brightly, but not at all blindingly. I can’t remember what shade of blue the sky was, but I remember it was gorgeous. The greens of the trees and grass where both bright and bold and deep and rich. I remember doubting my senses and my memory. Was I really seeing what I was seeing? Why was my memory of the world and how it looked so drab and dull? No one else saw what I saw. It was just me and I was blown away.

To this day when I look back on that morning I wonder what happened. What really happened? Did God do something miraculous that day or was my joy filled heart affecting my senses? I don’t know the answer to those questions, and I’m ok with that.

What I am sure of is that I was incredibly happy that morning. Honestly, I was giddy. With no effort at all I obeyed Ephesians 5:19 because my heart was singing! Back then there were so many things about God and his word that I did not know. I knew little about the Bible and doctrine and church matters. What I did know was that God was real and that I was loved and saved. I felt his love and existence so strongly. It was more than enough to make my heart sing! I was filled with awe and thankfulness.

On this anniversary of my new birth my heart is still filled with awe and thankfulness. God did an amazing thing. I will forever be moved by his grace and mercy in saving me. He gave me a new heart and new eyes. He changed me and continues to change me. He has never left me and continues to open my eyes. With every year that passes, I learn through his word to see him more clearly; and I know that the most beautiful sights on this earth pale in comparison to him. I will be forever thankful for all he has done for me, but especially for saving me. I thank him for this anniversary, and I thank him for loving me.

May you have a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!