What a glorious day we have today! Perfect Spring day with the sunshine, fresh mown lawns, crystal clean air, warm with a cool breeze. What I need is a hammock. and a few hours to enjoy… But regardless, everything is better when the weather is perfect. (No. My mood does not depend on weather – but I find it easier to enjoy life when it is a pretty  day.)

Romans 5: 2b-3a  says, ” Let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. Moreover, let us also be full of joy now!” (Amplified) Don’t you love that?!

Suppose you had an invitation to have a private audience with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. (Or whoever you think is awesome.) Wouldn’t you look forward with a sense of anticipation and excitement? I wouldn’t be able to sleep for weeks! Or remember when you set the date for your wedding – how eager and excited you were… You had to wait for it and the closer the day drew the more excited you got.

That is the kind of anticipation Paul is talking about! But Paul is not talking about something we have to wait for – it isn’t a future event.  We don’t have to wait for the fulfillment – we can experience the joy God’s glory now!

The preceding verse says, “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” (NIV)  So…our ticket in is Jesus Christ. It’s like knowing Prince William who takes us into the Palace and we are allowed to stand, walk around, sit, play, eat in the Queen’s very presence! No restrictions. We have a relationship with her and can enjoy the access freely. As we enjoy the access and glory of royalty we are full of joy and happiness. (Please understand these comparisons are pale, at best, but I hope they get the point across.)

In the same way we have access to a relationship with the glory of God though Jesus. We can stand, sit, walk, play, dance, eat – live –  in His presence, freely. No restrictions of guilt, shame, sin, condemnation, unworthiness…only acceptance, unconditional love, joy and peace. That is a mind-blowing thought. And it is not some future event when we die – we do it now – today! That’s something to shout about!