Now But Not Yet — A LifeWords Devotion

There are some followers of Jesus whose priority it is to endure earth till we get to heaven. This tends to ignore Jesus’ own teaching that we are to make a difference in this world. It also ignores the fact that what we call heaven may well be this earth renewed. There is at least some continuity between what we experience now and what we will experience then.

Then again, some go to the other extreme and figure that by hard work, and perhaps political action, we can install God’s kingdom on earth. This ignores the reality of the presence of the evil opposition to God’s government. It assumes we can have all the blessings of heaven now.

The truth lies in between. By the way we think and speak and live, we extend God’s rule and resist the rule of the evil one. We are salt and light, bringing flavour and hope to our broken world. We may not be able to do everything, but we can do something.

God’s Spirit is with us, reminding us of his powerful presence. But this powerful presence is not seen in all its fullness. We live in an in between world, a world of “now and not yet” when it comes to God’s kingdom or rule. We do our bit, which may or may not be much, but will be whatever God calls us to do.

Blessings

David