Faith has orientation past, present and future. We look back on what God has done for us in Christ, we live in the present by the Spirit and we look forward to God’s promises begun now through Christ to be fully realized. Though rooted in God’s past once-for-all redemptive work in Christ, faith is essentially forward looking.
We humans are prone to living in anticipation, yet we live also in dread. Life is full of uncertainties and none of us knows for sure what tomorrow will bring. Yet, as one of my favorite pastors, Bill Hesse used to say (with that wonderful smile), “For God’s children, the best is always yet to come!” (I love that man; I think he’s “in glory” now.)
Faith does not live in the past with regret (“If only…”). Nor does it live only for today, though it should be fully living in the present. Nor does it live only marking time, thinking what matters is only what lies ahead (as in Jesus’ second coming). No. Faith helps us through Jesus to live completely in the present in light of the past in anticipation of the future. The future is actually present now through and in Jesus by the kingdom present in him, manifest in his redeemed community on earth now. And by the new creation begun in us now, and extended by the Spirit through us in our works in the Lord which not only anticipate the resurrection, but are resurrection works. Works that somehow through God will last forever.
By faith we know God has begun a good work in us through Christ, and that he will complete it. We also know we are now God’s children and that there is mystery in what we are becoming and will become, but that when Christ appears we will be like him, since we will have eyes to see him as he is.
In Christ we have already tasted of the good things of God, and we look forward to living fully in that goodness. In the meantime we live in the present with the call to take up our cross and follow Jesus, to know him in the power of his resurrection and in the sharing of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. That is difficult, and impossible apart from God’s work of grace by the Spirit. But it’s the glorious path Christ has opened up for us by his great salvation. One through which we move in communion with the saints/all of God’s people and in communion with Christ himself by the Spirit.
Therefore we can live with a smile, even through the most difficult of times. Even when facing the final enemy which will be defeated, death itself. Remembering that for the child of God the best is always yet to come!!!
How have you found faith to be forward looking?
Jesus community 