“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by His Holy Spirit, Whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.” Titus 3:3:3-8a Here Paul is recounting to his hearers what he and they used to be like. As in 1Tim. 1:15, again, we see that “…Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.” It is always good to remember where we came from before the light of the Lord shone into our lives, so we won’t go back there again. The kindness and love of our Father saved us. “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:6-8). How wonderful that our Father is so abounding in love and kindness and grace, or where would we be? Still fumbling around in our lives of sin having our foolish hearts darkened (Rom. 1:21) and being separated from the life of God. Through rebirth and renewal (John 3:3), we are now heirs of eternal life. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…” (Rom. 8:17). The inheritance given to Jesus by the Father is ours also. He has promised that we will rule and reign with Him someday. “…If we endure, we will also reign with Him…” (2Tim. 2:12). What an awesome promise! We who were once separated from God, living in the futility of our darkened lives will, by His grace and mercy, live with Him forever and reign with Him! Thank God for His immeasurable grace and mercy that “…we should be called children of God.” (1John 3:1). “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His Name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” (Rev. 22:3b-5).