9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
There is something very subtle in this verse that you might have missed. Go back and read it again. This verse says that the readers “are receiving” the salvation of their souls. This is present tense, something that is happening right not, not simply some event in the distant future. So many people don’t really enjoy the benefits of being a believer. They don’t know to pay attention to the presence of God right now, right where they live, right in this moment. Do you recognize God’s presence right now as you are reading? Take a moment and say “Hello” right now. Let Him know you are paying attention to His presence, that you feel Him, that you acknowledge Him. Peter wanted to let his readers know that the salvation of their souls is not something that only happens in the future. It is something that we begin to experience right now, right where we live. This experience of the “right now” of salvation, and the process is called sanctification. It is the process of being made more and more like Christ. It is the process of taking off the old life and putting on the new life. It is dropping the old sinful habits and allowing the life of God to fill and infuse. This is the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls. And it begins today. Actually it began the moment you started your relationship with Jesus. Notice that relationship today. Acknowledge it and enjoy it. God is with us, Immanuel. He wants to live with us and walk with us, just like in the Garden. Are you willing to let Him?
The Arnold Journey 