2 Kings 4 Part II
All is well.... Perhaps,
perhaps this woman in 2 Kings 4 had a different hope. Hope--a confidence based on faith. Not a wish. Perhaps she had heard of the God of Israel, the God of life and was sure her son would be raised from the dead.
Yet, was she sure, hopeful for that? Might she have speculated, "Perhaps he will not be raised from the dead. Perhaps the present solution won't be what I want it to be... But it is well, in the end." Present, future, end.... Faith and hope have a different time scheme. Present--he is dead.
But
Then
Two powerful, defiant words.
But
then
God.
More powerful than what appears to be real in the now.
We do not live life from the present looking to the future, but from the future looking to the present. We do not live life in this world looking to the heavens, but from our seat in the heavens to this world. We are those who have eternal life. We are those who are in the heavens. We are those who are assured of glory. This is life beyond the shadowlands of this pain-ridden, death-governed world. The kingdom of God has come. The future shalom is seeping into this world, streaks of glory in God's healing, God's work, of transformed hearts, love, and joy. If we live in the present and in this world, we are always endlessly striving and worrying for ways to work to make the future better. If we live from the future, we know all is well. I am a person of immortal glory, whose body will be glorified like Jesus Christ, who will be made pure as he is pure... although right now it is wasting away and still corrupted by sin. Will things get better in the present? Maybe not. Maybe finances will be worse. Maybe health will keep deteriorating. It is scary, yes. But I have a greater hope that eclipses it. And I know he is with me, and his grace will be sufficient.
Yet, was she sure, hopeful for that? Might she have speculated, "Perhaps he will not be raised from the dead. Perhaps the present solution won't be what I want it to be... But it is well, in the end." Present, future, end.... Faith and hope have a different time scheme. Present--he is dead.
But
Then
Two powerful, defiant words.
But
then
God.
More powerful than what appears to be real in the now.
We do not live life from the present looking to the future, but from the future looking to the present. We do not live life in this world looking to the heavens, but from our seat in the heavens to this world. We are those who have eternal life. We are those who are in the heavens. We are those who are assured of glory. This is life beyond the shadowlands of this pain-ridden, death-governed world. The kingdom of God has come. The future shalom is seeping into this world, streaks of glory in God's healing, God's work, of transformed hearts, love, and joy. If we live in the present and in this world, we are always endlessly striving and worrying for ways to work to make the future better. If we live from the future, we know all is well. I am a person of immortal glory, whose body will be glorified like Jesus Christ, who will be made pure as he is pure... although right now it is wasting away and still corrupted by sin. Will things get better in the present? Maybe not. Maybe finances will be worse. Maybe health will keep deteriorating. It is scary, yes. But I have a greater hope that eclipses it. And I know he is with me, and his grace will be sufficient.
MY GOD I THANK THEE
I thank
Thee more that all our joy
Is touched with pain,
That shadows fall on brightest hours,
That thorns remain;
So that earth’s bliss may be our guide,
And not our chain.
Is touched with pain,
That shadows fall on brightest hours,
That thorns remain;
So that earth’s bliss may be our guide,
And not our chain.
For thou
who knowest, Lord, how soon
Our weak heart clings,
Hast given us joys, tender and true,
Yet all with wings;
So that we see gleaming on high
Diviner things.
Our weak heart clings,
Hast given us joys, tender and true,
Yet all with wings;
So that we see gleaming on high
Diviner things.
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