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I get the “Not Yet.”

I believe in the “Not Yet.”

I think you can’t argue against the “Not Yet.”

I need some more “Already,” already.

If you’ve paid your dues in the pews you’ve heard this mentioned.  It’s the biblical revelation that we live in the “Already, Not Yet.”  Simply put, it’s the time between Jesus’ first and second coming.  The era between his resurrection and his promised return.  It’s the over lap of ages before the final new creation where heaven and earth quite literally collide (Revelation 21).  If you want to impress your Christian friends just call it inaugurated eschatology.  It’s all over the New Testament letters when you start looking for it.  David Briones lists just a few.  According to the bible Christians are:

Already adopted in Christ (Romans 8:15), but not yet adopted (Romans 8:23);

Already redeemed in Christ (Ephesians 1:7), but not yet redeemed (Ephesians 4:30);

Already sanctified in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2), but not yet sanctified (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24);

Already saved in Christ (Ephesians 2:8), but not yet saved (Romans 5:9);

Already raised with Christ (Ephesians 2:6), but not yet raised (1 Corinthians 15:52).

The Old Testament appeared to point to one eschatological event in the appearance of the Messiah.  But Christ quickly made it clear that his ministry would come in two stages.  His first coming marks the beginning of the end, the last days.  His second coming marks the end.  The great eschatological moment has happened- Jesus rose from the dead.  Resurrection is our new reality.  We have the present blessings of resurrection, including, but most certainly not limited to the forgiveness of sin, the defeat of death, and the filling of the Holy Spirit.  And these are the signs, or seal, of the promised fulfillment of new creation in Jesus’ return and judgement.  Actually, Jesus tells this about the “already” in John 5:24, “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”  According to Jesus the “already” is so real that we have, in a sense, bypassed judgement and already entered into eternal life.  Wow.  Really, wow!

But back to my confession- I get the “not yet.”

Not yet are we free from sin.

Not yet are we free from death.

Not yet are we free from guilt and shame.

Not yet is our world free from disease and hunger.

Not yet are we free from war.

Not yet are we reconciled to our fellow image bearers.

Not yet are we standing face to face with our Lord.

Not yet has Jesus returned.

Come, Lord Jesus, come.  Seriously.  For what it’s worth I really mean it.  I’m ready to stand before you in judgement because I’m planning on standing IN you in judgement.

So how about some more of the already, already!

Already some answers to prayers for loved ones.

Already some healing.

Already some addicts being set free.

Already some broken hearts being mended.

Already some desperate people finding joy.

And since I’m asking, already some justice.

Already some wins over corruption.

Already some racial reconciliation.

Already some civility in politics.

Already some peace in the midst of war.

Already enemies becoming allies.

I’ll get even more personal and confessional.

I could use some already signs that I’m on the right path.

Already breakthroughs in my inner world.

Already some victory for the church.

Already some new converts to the faith instead of people falling away.  

I could get into some biblical explanations and reasons for the “not yet.” It’s easy to craft a theological explanation for the not yet. And it can sound super spiritual to say I already have more than enough already- I already have my salvation, my hope, my family, my blessings. Yes and amen, I am already grateful for so much already. But God, some more of the already would be really great right about now.

More punch to my prayers.

More power in my worship.

More joy in my giving.

More wisdom in my work.

More favor in what I’m trying to do for the kingdom.

More signs and wonders.

More super-natural, Spirit-filled, undeniable God-things.

That’s my hope, and my prayer as we come out of Easter and into new creation-

I’m tired of the not yet. I’m ready for the already.

So give me a heart with faith and eyes to see and ears to hear and mouth to speak and hands to serve and feet to go.  I know there are promises that are not yet.  But I’m ready for every promise that is already.

The Easter Egg Hunt is Back On
Sunday, April 4 @ 9am

We have plenty of eggs but we need candy.
All candy must come prepackaged.
No bags of jelly beans or anything “loose.”
You can drop candy off at the church by March 28.

Register Online

Is your faith marked by a deep belief, assurance and dependency on grace through Jesus? Or is your heart bent on man-fearing, self-worshiping religiosity?

Grace is freedom from the curse of works (Gal. 3:10), freedom from condemnation (Gal 2:15), freedom from slavery (Gal. 5:1) and freedom to worship and obey Jesus by the power of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16). Mere religion can never love or honor Jesus – it is ashamed of and offended by the gospel that declares all as sinners in need of a Savior. What gospel are you spreading in your church or life- Grace or Religion?

Acceptance

Religion: “I obey; therefore, I’m accepted.”

Gospel: “I’m accepted; therefore, I obey.”

 Motivation

Religion: Motivation is based on fear and insecurity.

Gospel: Motivation is based on grateful joy.

Obedience

Religion: I obey God in order to get things from God.

Gospel: I obey God to get God – to delight in and resemble him.

Circumstances

Religion: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I am angry at God or myself, since I believe that anyone who is good deserves a comfortable life.

Gospel: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I struggle, but I know my punishment fell on Jesus and that while God may allow this for my training, he will exercise his Fatherly love within my trial.

Criticism

Religion: When I am criticized, I am furious or devastated because it is critical that I think of myself as a “good person.” Threats to self-image must be destroyed at all costs.

Gospel: When I am criticized, I struggle, but it is not essential for me to think of myself as a “good person.” My identity is not built on my record or my performance but on God’s love for me in Christ.

Prayer

Religion: My prayer life consists largely of petition, and it only heats up when I am in a time of need. My main purpose in prayer is control of the environment.

Gospel: My prayer life consists of generous stretches of praise and adoration. My main purpose is fellowship with God.

Confidence

Religion: My self-view swings things between to poles. If and when I am living up to my standards, I feel confident, but then I am prone to be proud and unsympathetic to failing people. If and when I am not living up to standards, I feel humble but not confident – I feel like a failure.

Gospel: My self-view is not based on my moral achievement. In Christ I am simultaneously sinful and lost, yet accepted in Christ. I am so bad that he had to die for me, and I am so loved that he was glad to die for me. This leads me to deep humility and confidence at the same time.

Identity

Religion: My identity and self-worth are based mainly on how hard I work, or how moral I am – and so I must look down on those I perceive as lazy or immoral.

Gospel: My identity and self worth are centered on the one who died for me. I am saved by sheer grace and I can’t look down on those who believe or practices something different from me. Only by grace am I what I am.

*Adapted from The Gospel Coalition, “Grace or Religion?”

And let us consider how we may spur one another on
toward love and good deeds,
not giving up meeting together, 
as some are in the habit of doing,
but encouraging one another—
and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
~ Hebrews 10:24-25

The country parson hadn’t seen one of his parishioners for some time and decided to pay a visit.  Upon entering he noticed the hearth, took the tongs, removed a log from the fire, and placed if off to the side, away from the other logs.  He sat quietly, not saying a word.  Within a few minutes the lone log stopped burning.  He got up, took the tongs, and placed the log back among the burning logs where it quickly caught fire again.

The man nodded to his pastor and said,
“I’ll see you on Sunday.”

I will confess my great concern-
The fire has gone out among many Christians during the past year of pandemic.

For a new church that named itself “Connections” the past year has been particularly painful.  We’ve been fraught with the mandates-
– Do not gather.
– Do not sing.
– Do not break bread.
– Do not hug or even shake hands.
– Do not leave your homes.
– Do not go into other peoples homes…

I’m NOT asking you to disregard rules.
I’m NOT asking you to take unnecessary risks.

But I am asking you,
 and inviting you,
to make sure you stay connected.

I see the fire of faith going out in many lives.
I hear how lonely so many have been.
And we’re seeing the effects-

Yes, worship attendance has gone down.
But so has participation in Groups, engagement with outreach, and overall giving.

When the fire goes out in one life,
the fire dims in the church,
and world grows a little darker,
and people are a bit more lost.

If you’re willing to confess that the fire has gone out in your life there is still hope.  The fastest, easiest and most effective way to reignite the flame is to get back in the fire-

– Join us for worship Wednesday night.
Join us Sunday morning.
– Join a Connection Group.
– Volunteer to help with a team.
– Serve with the Winter Shelter Network.

Or just call.
We can talk, pray and pay a visit if and when you feel safe.

Do it for your own faith,
and for those who are alone, cold and in the dark.

Blessings,
Pastor George

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26 | JOHN 13:34-38

“A new command I give you: Love one another.” John 13:34

I would like to have been there. Wouldn’t you? Jesus was giving his final instructions to his disciples. To them he would soon entrust his life-giving mission. The tone of Jesus’ speech was tender, yet urgent. His instructions were specific. Perhaps the clearest and most direct command was this: “Love one another.”

While Jesus elsewhere teaches that his disciples must love all people, even their enemies, here he tells his followers they must love each other. This is how the world will see and understand the message of God’s love.

If you are connected to a church, you know the challenge of this command. It can be hard to love fellow believers. Differences in theology, culture, lifestyle, worship style, and many other things can create conflict and division among Christians. Yet Jesus said that the world will know we are Christians not by our uniformity of thinking or practice, but by our love for one another, which comes from God (see 1 John 4:7-21).

The good news is that the love we are commanded to share is
not self-generated. We don’t have to come up with this love all by ourselves. Romans 5:5 tells us, “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” In other words, the more we open our hearts to receive the gracious love of God, the more we are able to love one another.

Is there a fellow believer or family member to whom you might show love today? Do you need to ask God to help you live his example of love?

PRAYER:

Almighty God, fill me with your love. Help me to show love to all my brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.

—WRITTEN BY RUTH BOVEN

Men-
If there is enough interest we can reserve camping spots at Moab Valley Campground the weekend of April 30-May 2.
(Or April 29,Thursday, to arrive a day early and set up.)

Price will depend on the number of nights and number of people.  And cabins cost a bit more, of course.
It should cost around $100, give or take.

If you are interested or already want to reserve a spot please write george@myconnections.church or call me asap at 720-355-9571. I need to get some interest and an estimate on numbers by FEBRUARY 14 to secure early rates.