The Here and Not Yet

9/11

floods

shootings

sex slavery

infanticide

global warming

wars and rumors of wars

when will this end? will it ever end?

Jesus? are you even there? do you even care?

My daughter, I am here.

I was always here.

My daughter, I do care.

I have always cared.

And it breaks my heart.

When I judged the world with the flood, I saved one man — Noah — and his family. It broke my heart that no one else among the children of man was righteous.

My heart was so grieved that I gave Noah the rainbow to seal my everlasting covenant with mankind, promising that the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

Instead of judging mankind, I judged my Son. I poured out on my beloved Son all my wrath and indignation towards sin. He bore it all. For once and for all, it was done.

Here. Your Savior’s work upon the cross is complete. Because of Him, you access my throne of grace boldly. Because of Him, you hope.

Not yet. There will come a day when you will hear the cry of command, the voice of an archangel, the sound of My trumpet. On that day, I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain. All this will pass away.

Here and not yet. My child, this is the tension. Christ’s sacrifice is complete, but the earth has yet to be restored. You groan with creation as in pains of childbirth. You wait for the redemption of your body. You wait for the redemption of humanity’s brokenness. You wait for the redemption of creation. You are here, but you are living for the not yet.

My child, have I ever failed my promises? Have I ever spoken and not fulfilled?

If I did not spare my own Son, but gave him up for you — will I not graciously give you all things?

And that includes the grace to trust. That includes the faith to pray. That includes the humility to serve.

When it seems like everything is futile

When it seems like every prayer is useless

When it seems like no one listens

When it seems like everyone rejects Me

When it seems like the world is falling apart

My child, live in the here but remember the not yet.

Know that life is not in vain

Know that your prayers are powerful

Know that I will always listen

Know that I will always keep a remnant

Know that the world will be restored

I’m coming soon. Be the master of the house that keeps watch. Be the virgin that carries oil.

Keep hope and stay awake.