Already/Not Yet

Already/Not Yet

We are talking about the prosperity gospel, which is the belief system that says that health, wealth, and prosperity are included in salvation as divine rights for us in this world. God may give us those things right now, but He may not. He will give them to us in heaven though. Whether He does or He does not, that is not the point of salvation. The point of salvation is ultimately the glory of God through the grace of Jesus forgiving us of sin and adopting us as His children. The purpose of salvation is not using God to fulfill the American Dream. Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Notice that he says “spiritual blessing(s)” and these blessings are “in the heavenly places in Christ.”

This is where a proper understanding of a Christian worldview is very useful and where the title of this blog comes into play. We already possess all of God’s blessings in Christ, but we do not yet fully experience them. We will not fully experience them until we get to heaven. The kingdom of God is in our hearts now, but we will not literally be in the Kingdom until Jesus comes back. It is important to understand that we no longer live in a Genesis 1-2 world (which was paradise before sin), and we do not yet live in a Revelation 21-22 world (which is a new heaven and a new earth, restored to paradise and perfection), but we currently live in a Genesis 3 fallen world (this world is under a curse, everything is decaying, and nothing is as it should be). We must keep this reality in our minds in order to correctly understand the world and our lives. I am redeemed, but I live in a fallen world, which creates difficulties. Christ has removed my curse spiritually, but I still live in a world that is under the curse. I am spiritually restored, but my body is decaying because I am a fallen creature living in a fallen world. Sure, I should take care of my body, and God certainly gives physical healing (I will blog about this later in the series, but I have witnessed God do miracles of physical healing), but my guarantee in this world is not perfect, divine health. Instead, I am guaranteed death unless I am alive when Jesus returns for His bride. That does not mean something is wrong with me (or you) spiritually, but it is the reality of life in a fallen world. At some point in the future, I will have perpetually perfect health, but that will not happen until I am in heaven. Every Christian has every spiritual blessing in Christ, but God blesses us differently when it comes to material blessings. Ultimately, He wants us to love Him, trust Him, thank Him, and be content with what we have (or don’t have). A relationship with the Lord is about the Giver more than it is about the gifts.

Romans 8:18-30 says,
18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us[a] with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

In closing, let me give you three observations from this text that directly apply to the subject at hand:
1. Suffering is a reality in this present age, but it will pale in comparison to the glory we experience in the age to come when we transition from a Genesis 3 world to a Revelation 21-22 world (v. 18).
2. The creation itself is waiting for God to redeem it (v. 19-22). That fact shows that creation is not what it was intended to be. However, it also demonstrates that God will someday remake it into what He designed it to be.
3. Those who have a relationship with God can take comfort not only in this future hope but also in the fact that God is working all things together for good for us even in the midst of this fallen, crazy world (v. 28). That truth gives real hope!