OK, let's get the old saying, nay joke, out of the way. "Saved from what?" I guess that although I cringe at that question, it really is quite valid. Before I can go into when, I should visit the what of being saved. The simplest way of answering this question comes by way of the ancient, holy scrolls:

Whether we use the message of John 3:3, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." or elsewhere in the same Gospel (10:9a), "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved" we are speaking of the same Truth. We are human and so very far from perfect. "For all of us have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God", and we need/want to find our way back to Him. That Way, is the way of the cross. As the blood of Jesus dripped from the cross, He being fully man and fully God, washed us all of our sins by His holy perfection. Our heavenly Father now only sees His Son in us, and allows us to enter His throne; forgetting all of our sins, which at least for me are more than the current US debt! So as plainly as I know how to say it, we who are unable to be holy by ourselves, are saved by the Blood of Jesus and from sin and an eternity away from God.

So, I ask again, when were you saved from the terrible pains of an eternity away from the sight of God? My wife and I were recently discussing all the times in our marriage and life when we had done something foolish, only to be ok in the end. Stefanie used to say that I had a leprechaun in my pocket. For myself, I know of many times I was shot at, but two times when I looked down the actual barrel of a pistol directed at me. I remember years before I had even met my wife, I was driving home late at night and drunk. I hit another car, totaling my Datsun B 2-10, and walked away with a cut across the bridge of my nose and nothing more. My friend sitting in the seat next to me woke up in the accident, and only had some broken glass on his clothing, but no injuries at all. As a soldier, security officer, paramedic, nurse, and all around invincible young Irishman who lived life out loud, I was never harmed in any severe way. In full disclosure, I was a Roman Catholic during those years but, how devout can I be drunk driving? My relationship with Christ was obviously on my terms, not His. So how is it both in my life and in our marriage, we have always seemed to be ok in the end? Is it possible that we were meant to be saved long before I had full knowledge of what it meant for me? Kinda'.

Once again, I look to the ancient, holy Word written for us by roughly forty different men of a variety of set and time of circumstances over a period of 1,000 years under the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit; yet has the golden thread of God's Truth throughout. In those scrolls (books, poems, songs, Gospels, and letters), I find the following to help answer my questions. In the letter to the Romans, or more specifically a letter written by the apostle Paul to the early Gentile believers in Rome, we find that Paul is very specific in this matter. In the eighth chapter, verses 28-30, we read "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." When Paul writes that we are called according to His purpose, does that mean we are all chosen by God beforehand? In another letter, this one to the Ephesians, we find right in the first chapter, third verse, it begins, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." Just a little later, starting in verse eleven, "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation."

That is quite a lot to consider, and I know that this doctrine of predestination is no small matter. This doctrine alone splits churches and even families. But that is not really my question, is it? If I am asking "when" were you saved, it begs the inner question of when did you realize that you were meant for something more? If you feel, or can look upon your own past, and there is something that has kept you either safe or maybe at peace, what is it? Maybe it is the opposite, and your life has not been good, protected, or peaceful; has your lifestyle been starkly against what His Word says? If you believe there is a God, but he seems distant to you, even though you can see His hand in your own life or your life out of His hand, then what is the next step? Let's look at how His Word shows us the response of new believers.

The Book of Acts, written by Luke, is an historical record of the time between the resurrection of Christ to the conversion of Paul. Luke tells us in 2:42 that, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Now this sounds great, but it wasn't all fun times. Lest we forget that this new, small band became a perfect scapegoat for both Jewish leadership and Roman oppressors. Even though Stephen was a man full of God's grace and power, had the face of an angel, and preached the Word of God boldly; he was stoned to death by Jewish leaders for speaking the Truth. This killing began what was called the great persecution, and scattered many of these new believers. But it also helped to spread the Word wherever they went. My point, these men, women and children gave all to Christ, who gave them everything. The were joyful, loving in heart and by deed, caring for one another. They remained that way, even in the face of death.

So let me wrap up how this all fits together for you. When were you saved? Have you listened for the voice of your Creator? Have you responded, accepting His blood bought gift? If so, how thankful have you been, really? Do you rejoice in all things? Do you testify to God's goodness so others may stop and hear the Lord's call? The answers: We were created to be saved before the Lord formed us in our mother's womb, and He calls to us each day. Once we accept His call, we are saved each moment of our life and I don't believe we can be thankful enough. So we are called to be saved before we even realize it, but how long will we live without heading His call? When were you saved?