1 Peter 1:3-9: Mercury, T-Bird, Pink Cadillac...

Presented to TSA Harvest Community, 30 August 2026, by Major Michael Ramsay

 Our Salvation, our inheritance is now in heaven but, in the end, it will come here. It reminds me of a 16-year-old whose dad promised her his fancy car, when she was old enough to drive. The daughter is very excited to turn 16. But even then she isn’t ready to drive. She has to learn: take lessons, pass tests, practice driving. Even after she has turned 16 her dad is still holding the car for her until she is ready to drive. This is what it is like for us. 

Maybe the resurrection of Christ was the promise that God would give us the car of our inheritance, which He is keeping in perfect condition for us in heaven’s garage until we are finally ready to receive it, drive it, care for it, love it, share it, and look after it. 

From the time we are promised the car (and even from the time we turned 16) until we are able to drive it, we still need to walk; we still need to get rides from our parents and if we have older siblings or friends, our friends.  We still need to take the bus, other transit, or maybe ride a bike. Even after we are 16, we can’t drive our car until we have our license.  

Just like the written and driving tests give us experience and knowledge so that we can properly protect the car, others and ourselves; so too the tests in this life make us better able to care for and fully experience our salvation which is held for us in heaven. 

Maybe, extending this analogy further, Jesus is your dad, whom you’ve never seen in person because he had to go off to another country to get his PR or citizenship; you love him as you wait eagerly for your 16th birthday to receive your car from your dad and you long for the day when you will be united with him and can drive together forever in this gift that is your salvation. 

 

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How are you getting ready to receive the gift of the culmination of your salvation that is waiting for you in heaven’s garage?

1 Peter 2:11-17 : Tourists (2026 Version)

Presented to The Salvation Army Harvest Community, 09 August 2026

By Major Michael Ramsay

Read the scripture here: http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%202%3A11-17&version=NIV

Heather was at Teen Camp last week. Just before that Susan, Heather and I were on holiday for a couple of weeks. We traveled through Cashe Creek, Prince George, Smithers, Quesnel, Merit, and other places. It was a lot of fun exploring our province. I was struck by how nice Smithers is. I was also struck by all the smoke with the fires going on. It was a good trip. 

 

Our family has been on many good trips together. We went to The Salvation Army’s Boundless Celebrations in London years ago. We have visited Denmark, Susan and I have visited France, Susan and Sarah-Grace have been to Italy. We have been to Cuba as a family. We have been to the USA quite a bit – because it is so close. 

 

We have noticed when we are traveling that many things have been accomplished by many people in all these different places. We like to stop and read plaques by the side of the road, visit museums, and look at monuments. It always strikes me when we visit the USA though that some of the things celebrated by some of the monuments are things that offend my Canadian sensibilities. Their values and interpretation of history are still a little different from ours. 

 

But here is the thing I need to remember: when I am visiting, I am just a tourist. I can't vote in US elections. I can't change their laws or their culture. I don't have the rights of a US citizen and I shouldn't because I am not one. They are a foreign country. When I am there, I am a gracious guest; I am a tourist and I do not forget that I am no more than that. 

 

It is similar in our life here on earth for Christians. We need to stand up for Christ and we need to serve him. We can't, however, get drawn into things that have no relevance to his eternal kingdom.  We need to serve Christ here while still remembering that we are just tourists in this time and place. We need to be gracious guests but never forget that our real citizenship, our allegiance, our hope and our future life is in Heaven. 

   

Question: how can we act as Christians in an other than Christian world? 

 

Click here to read the original version published March 17, 2008: 

https://salvogesis.blogspot.com/2018/03/1-peter-211-25-philippians-315-21.html