yet, Daddy?”
Every December, when my kids were little, we heard that question again and again.
“Now is it Christmas, Daddy?”
“Not yet.” “Now?” “Not yet.” But then the day finally came. “Now is it Christmas, Daddy?”
“Yes, it is! Merry Christmas!” we told them as they squealed with delight.
“Now” and “not yet.” As Christians, it’s important for us to understand the difference between God’s “nows” and “not yets.”
The Bible speaks of what we have right now as Christians. Because Jesus was born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago to die at Calvary for us, we have forgiveness right now. God forgives you the errors of your youth that still haunt you today. He forgives you that night two weeks ago when you drank more than you should. He forgives you those ugly words you said to your wife this morning. Right now, at this very moment, the warm, comforting blanket of forgiveness covers you completely.
Right now, you have heaven.
It already belongs to you, even though you aren’t there yet – even though you can’t see heaven yet. But it is yours right now. As the Apostle Paul wrote: “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
God also promises to be with us right now and to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). He promises to make all things which happen right now work for our eternal good (Romans 8:28). That is our “now” as Christians. But our “now” also includes other things. Our “now” includes conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, polarizing politics in our own country, and violence seemingly everywhere. Our now includes cancer, divorce, and anxiety. Our now includes watching people we love suffer and die.
As we look at the problems and pains of our “now,” the Apostle Paul reminds us, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
One day, we will be free from all the hurt and heartache of this world. One day, we will see with our physical eyes what we can only see now through the eyes of faith. One day, we will experience the heaven that belongs to us right now. One day, we will have all those things, but not yet. For now, we must wait.
Like a four-yearold waiting for Christmas, however, we often struggle with the wait. We get impatient with God when he doesn’t free us from our pains right now. We get frustrated as the problems of right now pile upon our shoulders. We question God why he doesn’t give us what we want right now.
Yet God lovingly tells us to wait. So often, his answer isn’t “no,” but simply: “Not yet.” Now we must wait with the patience and confidence he gives us in his Word and promises. As we wait, however, we have the opportunity to live for him who gives us every good “now” and every perfect “not yet.”
Right now, we wait in eager expectation. We wait, knowing that one day, we will open our eyes and squeal in excitement. One day, we will be free. One day, we will see God face to face. One day, we will be reunited with our loved ones who died in Christ. That will happen one day.
Just not yet.
Pastor Andrew Schroer has been a pastor for over 25 years and is currently serving at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Edna, Texas. You can find his latest books, “364 Days of Thanksgiving” and “364 Days of Devotion,” on Amazon.com.
