Signed, Sealed, Delivered

II Corinthians 1:22 -- "He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."

It just could not have been more perfect. As I walked up and down the rows and rows of shiny new cars, my eye kept drawing me back to the bright red two-door Sunbird with the manual transmission. It was going to be my very first brand new car right off the lot.

With the intense Florida sun beating hard on my shoulders, I looked up admirably at my Grandfather - my co-signer - and beamed from ear to ear. He did some talking to the auto dealer but I have no idea what he said, I was looking at my new car, imagining the feel of the rubber on the road as I smoothly shifted from third to fourth. I could not wait to slide in behind that wheel.

Sitting down at the awkward desk in the tiny little office of the auto dealer it took what seemed like forever to hand over the deposit, to sign all the papers, and to FINALLY feel the weight of the keys in the palm of my hand. The formal and lengthy transaction was a legal promise of some great things to come: a trip to Bush Gardens with my dear friend Shanna, a ride up to Tennessee to see my parents, and the wonderful concert of our favorite Christian artists for which my sister and I drove all the way up to Illinois to hear. The excitement bubbled over in me like a warm coke on a hot summer day.

As exciting as my very first brand new auto purchase had been, however - it was just the tip of the iceberg. The real joy didn't flow until I slipped behind the wheel, breathed in the new-car smell and drove the machine timidly from the parking lot and onto the very busy Blanding Blvd. I just knew an amazing adventure had just begun. The transaction in the tiny little awkward office was a promise, the beginning.

Jesus put his seal of ownership on us when he died on the cross for our sins, rose again and conquered death once and for all. He gave to us the Holy Spirit, a deposit, if you will - a promise of what will come. Just like the wonderful road trips I took in my first brand new car, I experienced joy behind the wheel long before the contract had been completely executed. It took four years of payments for me to truly assume ownership of the vehicle. Likewise, we have joy in our Holy Spirit right now. As we drive through the winding roads of our lives, we have guidance and peace, joy and deliverance. Jesus gave us a deposit.

Imagine what joy, what wonderful things are to come once the contract is complete! We've been given a guarantee of things to come!