2-8--2022

 Good Morning All,

     1 Corinthians 13:12; “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known”

      In ancient Greek philosophy, Plato said that we never see reality only our perception of it. It is like we are in a cave and the reality occurs behind us and all we see is the shadows on the wall before us. There are many in the world that agree with this. You and I do not have to. We know reality; it is God Incarnate in Jesus. Yet even as we know the reality; we do not fully grasp it. We live in the existence of “now but not yet.”

   We know the reality that awaits us; we have eternal life assured to us. Our future is in heaven celebrating with all believers in the marriage feast of the Lamb. We know this is true, but we cannot see it fully. We are saved; right now. Our salvation is secured by the blood of Jesus. Our future in heaven is guaranteed by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. You are saved right now. There is no delay in this. This is the “now” part of our phrase.

    The thing is that we are not fully glorified. This is the “not yet.”  We are living in the time of our life where we live by God’s grace. Right now, we are living according to God’s grace. When the time comes, either our earthly death or Christ’s return, we will live according to God’s perfected, complete glory. So, as we go through life, we want to remember that grace is glory begun and glory is grace that is perfected.

    So, we live in an imperfect time. Our time will not be perfect until we receive our full measure of God’s glory. As we wait, we see it dimly. We really only have hints at what is to come.  We often speak of Holy Communion as a foretaste of the feast to come. We see it as just a small, microscopic taste of the wonderful gift, the fellowship at the rail with a few now that will be with the many then, while we have received it, we have not opened it yet. It is the Christmas present under the tree with your name on it and it is only the 20^th of December. It is ours; just not yet. Just like that present, we only dimly know what it is. We can pick it up and feel the weight; we can shake it; we can smell it, but we can never fully know what it is until we open it. We may know long before we open it that this present is a fantastic present. I do not know exactly what it is, but it is phenomenal. Then we can hold it and look at it and play with it. We can fully enjoy it. We no longer have to wait but we can enjoy it completely and perfectly.  This is what Paul means when he says, “now I know part, then I shall know fully.”  We are now-but not yet.”  We are saved according to God’s grace waiting for the completion of his glory.

Dearest Father, we only dimly see our future glory. Yet we can celebrate your grace as we wait for the fulfillment of your glory to us. Keep us in your peace as we walk in your ways looking for your glorious fulfilment. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret