Now and Then

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I turn 45 tomorrow. I never did well in math, but that number doubled is a bit higher than the upper-echelon projections of even the most generous life expectancy charts for a white, middle-class American. So I guess I am at mid-life no matter how you cut it. But since they say now that 50 years old is the “new” 40, I guess you could say, in sort of baby-boomer dog years, I am still thirty-something. Well, at least my waist-size still is.

OK, I am supposed to be now in my prime, they say. Just before heading over-the-hill next year in the general direction of a hip-replacement and prostate problems, I would like to just savor the moment here at the top of the mountain and take in a bit of the view. But as I look around, I am not seeing myself sitting at my own book-signing table, or receiving the majority of a church pastoral vote anywhere. Shoot, I haven’t even been the keynote speaker at a conference, sat on the board of an important organization, or been featured on a podcast. My phone doesn’t even ring most of the time, and that from pastors who I have called four or five times. I guess I better contact Verizon and cancel my call-waiting service. Something is wrong with this snapshot.

There are times in a person’s life when they can feel pretty anonymous. And that can make us feel pretty insignficant, or worse. It's hard to feel that way after reading Matthew 19:30, though. Here is how it reads in the NLT: “But many who are the greatest now will be least important then. And those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” There are three key words here that I would like to try and highlight the way the Holy Spirit did to my heart when I read that passage a few days ago. I don’t think I can come close, but maybe He’ll zap your spirit with the same bolt of revelation as well.

NOW. It is so easy to let our “now” define us. Especially since our now can appear to be the sum total of all our yesterdays. But even if the math adds up to a big zero, it doesn’t really define us or determine our value. Right now there are those who are at the top of the world and the top of everyone’s short list for the receiving the promotion, invitation, or plaque. Right now there are those whose numbers of Facebook friends or Followers on Twitter are right there in duadruple-digit black and white, dwarfing the pitiful numbers of the have-nots of the social networking world. But Jesus says that right now, right this very moment, there are those who in our view seem important. And this just may be their only moment. This now.

That’s because there is surely coming a THEN. This “then” is not just one future moment in time. Jesus’ then actually refers to all the immeasurable moments of eternity – a non-ending succession of days that stretches forever. So what happens in that then is incredibly important and truly vital. And what Jesus says is there is a huge discrepancy between the fleeting now and the interminable then. In fact, if you’re going to hope for something really good to happen either now or then, you had better put your money on then. Because then will make now seem like so much of absolutely nothing. Jesus said it in another way in another place, “The first will be last and the last will be first.”

That’s not what it SEEMS like now. But that is just what Jesus is trying to point out. All is not as it seems. We place such a high priority on what seems good, seems important, or seems valuable. But to seem is to appear. And we all know that appearances are deceiving. Jesus said that everyone who appears to receive all the applause, accolades and accomplishments now may seem to be important. But He is the only real and accurate Judge of value and worth. So if you are struggling with the lack of trophies on your shelf or the abundance of fourth place finishes in your first half now, remember this. It is not over now, nor even when the next half of life comes to an end. There is coming a then. And it is what the Father thinks and says about us then that will make clear the difference between what and who once seemed important in this now and those who really are valuable, precious and worthy of reward and recognition to Him.

Remember this. When your cell phone doesn’t ring, e has He has already called you. When you are passed over, He has already chosen you. And when you are not recognized, he will acknowledge you before all who have ever lived and reward you with high honor. If not now, wait - just wait until THEN.