Colossians 1:13 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”
The Apostle Paul continues with “Giving thanks unto the Father” (Colossians 1:12) “Who … hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son”. In this context, to be “translated” is to be supernaturally removed from a previous position and state and placed into another position and state. That is our Heavenly “Father” “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath” given us a new state of mind and heart and “hath” positioned “us” within “the kingdom of his dear Son”. In my military years, I averaged moving every two and one half years, those moves were called a ‘Permanent Change Of Station’ (PCS). This blessed translation is indeed a ‘Permanent Change Of Station’ in the worshipful service of our God; albeit, it is truly permanent, it is forever. It is explained in several ways; for example, “in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: … 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” (Ephesians 2:2-6), “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7), and “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44). When the Lord translates us, we are immediately ashamed of and offended by the immoral and deceitful things of “the power of darkness” and we immediately love and strongly desire the rich holiness and joy of His Word, His Fellowship, and the Fellowship of His Saints in His Church-Kingdom. And as we “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18) our desire and yearning for the precious things of “the kingdom of his dear Son” becomes stronger and stronger within us. In our translated state, we jubilantly declare with king David, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Psalms 122:1)!