They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.” Luke 5:26

Live long enough and you’ll be able to list many people who were saved from their sins who are still walking with the Lord today. They were going one way and remarkably did a 180 and headed in the opposite direction. Complete and sudden healing from some irreversible health issue like the paralyzed man dropped through the roof into Jesus’ presence would have the same dramatic effect, but an instantaneous and perpetual change of the heart trumps even that. The physically healed could be considered lucky and blessed, but that person’s eternal destiny has not changed. Here the paralyzed man gained function of his body and his eternal soul. How much better to be spiritually healed forever! That’s Jesus’ point and here’s how Paul describes the transaction.

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14

My point from this is how truly remarkable is the sudden one-way translation from this world to the next.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household. Ephesians 2:19

We often ask if someone is still walking with the Lord, as if salvation has a shelf life. Those once lost and now found who have never looked back are daily reminders of the power of God to eternally save. You can start with yourself. Be struck with astonishment each and every day!