Today’s reading is Hebrews 11

Tom writes:

The now and the not yet. Recently we’ve started reclaiming the now - and, if I could, I would turn a few backflips for that. We have boldly approached the throne in worship. We have carried the presence into our streets. We have contended for healings and for ecstasies of His peace. We must keep pushing hard into the now. But our faith must also retain the ‘not yet’ or it is not faith at all. Now let’s be clear that focusing on the Not Yet is not about lowering expectations. Now and Not Yet faith looks at what is now and delights in the salvation of our God made manifest among us - it expects people coming to faith, people being healed, people being set free, love being shown. But faith in the Not Yet also regards today with slight disappointment. Faith that understands the Not Yet says ‘Is this it?‘ and faith knows that while it might be, for now, it won’t be for ever. That is why true faith longs for that better country, the heavenly one that is not yet here. True faith is willing to sacrifice in the Now for the Not Yet. It can take the hurt because of its hope.

Faith sacrifices the first-fruits and builds arks and leaves homelands and lives in tents and admits that this earth (as it is) is not our home. Faith is willing to leave rewards and longed-for-results and desired-satisfaction until a future time. Faith ultimately invests its efforts in this current age for the promise of the future age. I feel like I’ve only just started to understand real faith. I feel like I’ve just begun to say with integrity that I have entrusted things to God for Him to give back to me on That Day. I wonder if you have got there yet? Have you accepted hurt because of your hope? Does your Way of Life not make sense if this is all there is? If you have - and I suspect you have - then the world is not worthy of you. If you have - even in a small way - then God is not ashamed to be called your God.

Question for reflection

What is stopping you from becoming a hero of the faith?

Hebrews 11 - Thursday 26th September