The Now and the Not Yet

The "Now" and the "Not Yet"
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Easter Sunday was wonderful.  The spirit in the room was great!  Thanks for making it special!

During the service I shared a quote with you.  Here it is again - “Jesus' resurrection is the beginning of God's new project, not to snatch people away from earth but to colonize earth with the life of heaven." (N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church)

The quote make the argument that the cross of Christ and salvation through this sacrifice isn't merely about getting into heaven through salvation.  This is the "not yet."  We are sealed by the Spirit and are guaranteed to be be with the God.  Though it must be acknowledged, this has yet to come to fruition.  "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12).

This leaves us with the "now."  The cross also introduces a new reality for the world.  It is being redeemed and we as Christians need to bring the truth of that salvation to bear in the world.  I believe this is was Christ means in the Lord's Prayer - " . . . they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."  God has saved and that is the reality of heaven. There is grace and unity in heaven.  There is true worship in heaven.  We are to bring this to the world "now."  

So we make a mistake when we only focus on the "not yet."  We need to focus on the "now."  We must accept the challenge and opportunity to bring heaven to earth!"