We are eternal beings living lives boundaried by time.
Our souls know only eternity.
Our minds know only 24 hours per day.
Our bodies submit to the arc of birth, childhood, adulthood, death.
We are, nonetheless, eternal beings filled with bounding hope.
Jesus referred to these truths, saying his followers would be ‘in the world but not of it.’ In other words, physically we would be confined by all that is material, but spiritually we would find our ‘place’ in the presence of God. Our physical beings were to be submitted to man’s laws, the same as they would need to submit to food, shelter, sleep, community. Our spirits, on the other hand, would be strengthened and revitalized by holy worship, intimacy with Jesus. (I’m reminded of the words of the hymnwriter: ‘And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.’)
We also speak of the Now and the Not Yet, that in-between period waiting for a complete revelation of the power and glory of the Kingdom. Jesus makes statements about the Kingdom being near, being within us, being yet to come. Out of his personal experience no doubt, James, the brother of Jesus, wrote: ‘Move your heart closer to God, and he will come even closer to you.’ James 4:8 TPT. (this coming closer – us to God and God to us – is what is known as experiencing liminal space, where it feels we have touched Heaven or Heaven has touched us.)
All of this is God’s plan ‘A’ for Jesus’ followers. We get to know him, yet mystery remains. As Ecclesiastes tells us: ‘God has planted eternity in the human heart, yet (even Pentecosted) people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.’ Ecclesiastes 3:9, NLT. And so, we embrace the mystery knowing that our God is faithful, and a Good, Good Father. He’s in charge and we are not. Takes care of a lot of the stress, doesn’t it? Enjoy! PD
