Now and Not Yet

"Whatever we do in service of God, we can never put God in our debt. Everything we do is simply out of gratitude for what he has done for us. All we can say, at the end of the day, is, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty’ (Luke 17:10).

‘Faith’, as A.W. Tozer wrote, ‘is a muscle that grows by stretching’. One of the ways we increase our faith is by doing something God asks us to do."

Bible Reading:

Luke 17:11-37

‘The kingdom of God is among you’

With the coming of Jesus and the coming of the kingdom of God, God has come to dwell among his people. Jesus is ‘Immanuel ... God with us’ (Matthew 1:23). Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is both ‘now’ and ‘not yet’:

God’s presence: ‘Now’

The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus answered, ‘The kingdom of God doesn’t come by counting the days on the calendar. Nor when someone says, “Look here!” or, “There it is!” And why? Because God’s kingdom is already among you’ (Luke 17:20–21, MSG).

One day Jesus will return. This will be the day of consummation for the kingdom of God. Then everyone will see, ‘For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other’ (v.24).

The kingdom of God is God’s rule and reign. Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing the sick (for example, vv.15–18), and through his death and resurrection. With the coming of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, God is present among his people. However, his presence is not always visible. People today will not always be able to say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is’ (v.21), but a time is coming when his presence will be visible.

God’s presence: ‘Not yet’

This will be the day when the Son of Man is revealed in all his glory (v.30), then we will see him face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12); and ‘we will be with the Lord forever’ (1 Thessalonians 4:17). We will experience the visible presence of God forever.

Right now God’s presence is not visible. People focus on eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling, planting and building (see Luke 17:27–28). None of these things are wrong in themselves. They are part of regular, ordinary life. The problem in both Noah’s time and Lot’s time was that most people did not listen to the warnings. Jesus urges us to be ready.

Paradoxically, whoever tries to keep their life will lose it and whoever loses their life will preserve it (v.33). If you are always trying to find ways of getting the most out of life for yourself – the most money, top position, good reputation, popularity – you will miss out. If you lose your life in denying yourself and serving Jesus, you will actually find life in all its fullness.

As we live in this time between the first and second coming of Jesus, we must not forget to thank God for all his blessings. At the start of today’s passage we read how, of the ten lepers whom Jesus cured, only one came back ‘praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him’ (Luke 17:15–16).

It is easy to be like the nine lepers who forget to thank Jesus. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude – taking time to thank Jesus for answers to prayer, his constant love, forgiveness and kindness to you.

Lord, forgive me for forgetting so often to thank you. Thank you so much for all your blessings … 

Thank you especially for your presence with us – the kingdom of God is among us now. Thank you that one day you will return and I will see you face to face and be with you forever in the visible presence of God.

1. Needless to say more. Thank You for everything! My heart goes to Nepal.

2. Thank You for the constant reminder to listen to the warnings before Jesus' second coming. Please help me deny myself and serve Jesus until He comes.

3. Praise God for the invention of internet. I can be up-to-date with almost anything.