Already/Not Yet

The phrase “Already but Not Yet” describes a central tension in biblical teaching. This tension-that believers already experience spiritual realities but still await their ultimate completion-shapes how we understand our present Christian walk and future hope. (Via BibleHub)

1 John 3:2-3

² Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. ³ And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

What can we do now?

As April begins, we may feel a similar sort of anticipation mixed with impatience. It feels like Easter will never be here. We worry that peace will never be reached. Our children are still requesting the same snacks and the same tantrums are occurring. We can’t seem to find our way toward the light. We’re still not sleeping through the night. Yet Easter is coming. We will celebrate the resurrection of Christ. But we’ll also dine with him for the last supper, we’ll deny and run from him, we may even betray him. We’ll walk with him to Golgotha, stand with him beside the cross, and then we’ll wait for the stone to be rolled away. Much of our faith is a tension between the already and the not yet. We watch our children grow and make mistakes, but we know they’ll have more chances to learn. We see the relationships before us but desire a deeper connection. We see the injustices many face and long to bring acts of healing. When we’re living in this period of anticipation and uncertainty, we can ask ourselves and our families: What can we do now? What does this moment require of us? Perhaps it’s a moment of prayer, or collecting spare change to send to relief workers, or stepping outside to feel the sun on our faces. We see Christ in our neighbors. We wake up and feed our children, make our beds, encourage kindness among friends and pray for the work before us now.

-Kimberly Knowle-Zeller , “God’s Presence Here and Now” (2022)

Reflection & Prayer

There are countless distractions that focus your attention to the future or the past – what are ways you can be fully present today as Christ’s hands and feet?