Focus: Powerful Present

Text: Jh.10:10

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

The other day we looked at the fact that in Christ our future is loaded with eternal blessings. We have a hopeful future in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul talks about "the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel" (Col.1:5). In Christ our future is secure. It is a glorious, blessed and blissful future. There are no tears of sorrow in it - no suffering, no shame, no pain, no trouble, no poverty or penury, no evil, no sin, no death, no fears, no darkness, and no Satan.

It is a future in which there is nothing to worry about - a future full of peace, joy unspeakable, pure love, eternal blessings, and victor's crowns. Paul says, "Henceforth there is LAID UP for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2Tim.4:8). Quoting Isaiah, he says, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath PREPARED for them that LOVE him" (1Cor.2:9).

We are moving into a future where God Himself comes to live among us.

N. T. Wright, a New Testament scholar and professor, has written a book entitled, "God's Homecoming." How I so love this title! It is the grandest aspect of our great eternal future that our God will come home to the earth to tabernacle among us. He will eternally take up residence in our world and reign over us through the Lord Jesus Christ - the Lamb of God.

Now let's focus on the present. People of a hopeful future cannot afford to have a miserable present. Our present should reflect our future. Our present is meant to look like the future of our hope.

Jesus Christ has come to give us life. It's eternal life. It's abundant life. It's a life of peace and joy. It's a fruitful life.

Paul says, "For in him we live, and move, and have our being…" (Act.17:28).

It's not a life of poverty and penury. It's not a life of suffering and sorrow. It's not a life of misery and sickness. It's not a life of helplessness, hopelessness and powerlessness. It's not a life of defeat and failure. It's not a life that is meaningless or purposeless. Rather it's a life of love, of industry, of fun, and of encounter with God, who is the source and substance of life.

In front of you is a prepared table. God has a table prepared for you in the presence of your enemies.

Our responsibility is to make the best of today, to be our best, to do our utmost, and fulfill our place on earth to the glory of God. In the Song of Solomon, we read, "The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have LAID UP for thee, O my beloved" (Song of Sol.7:13). Let us lay up our fruits for Christ! We have received the grace to be faithful to God and fruitful in Christ. Christ has chosen us to bear fruits for Him. We should be ready to bring to the door step of heaven our fragrant fruits and spices. 

Let's make our earthly existence purposeful and powerful. Let's live courageously and victoriously here in the present. Let's make God proud and be a blessing to others. People of a glorious future must have a powerful present. Live a meaningful life, not a miserable or hopeless one.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter