Now and Then
2.5 minute read
Crawford told me last week that over a span of 42 years (!!!), John MacArthur preached the entire New Testament one verse at a time each time he stood at the pulpit.
What a feat!
This morning I read 1 Corinthians 13:9-12, and it is so loaded with richness. As the verses all swam around in my crowded little brain, I was led to take a page out of JM’s book and pick just one.
(These posts are obviously not sermons, and I am obviously not a preacher, but lest any of ye think I’m acting as such I have placed this caveat here. 10/10 recommend including Lest ye in a conversation today btw).
With all of this in mind, the verse du jour is 1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT.
“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”
All the NOWs and THENs have me thinking of the cult classic Now and Then my sister and I watched at least 7897 times. While the movie referenced “now” as the mid-90s and “then” as the early 70s, this verse refers to now as present day and then in the future tense for when we meet Jesus.
The phrase “like puzzling reflections in a mirror” makes me think of struggling to see through fog, which makes me think of the likely frustration to accompany poor eyesight, which makes me think of the 9.5 year old, 90 lb gentle giant snoring next to me named Heidi.
Heidi is our beloved best-worst-dog, and homegirl has recently been diagnosed with dogaracts (buh-dum-tss and courtesy of my clever in-laws). Her eyes get a little foggier everyday, and while she knows her way around the house, her piercing bark has increased by several decibels when scary people like our 64 year old mailman and cute, smiling babysitters approach the front door.
If she could see the whole picture, she would probably still bark (let’s be honest), but it would be less frantic and defensive – less Pantera, more Rolling Stones if you will.
All this to say, I honestly can’t blame her for this (over)reaction because of the simple fact that it’s scary when we can’t see!
When we can’t see the whole picture, we can start to panic. We might also get angry and/or defensive, and if/when the fogginess grows, we might even get so discouraged we want to give up.
Even further, we can even start to imagine things that aren’t there. When (not if) this happens, we have to stop dead in our tracks and reverse to what we know is true.
Beeeep. Beeeep. Beeeep. (This is the sound of a dump truck backing up in my brain, and while I know I should delete it, I just can’t).
What do we know is true? God’s word! What does he say about us not being able to see clearly? It won’t always be that way! In fact, He tells us we will soon see in perfect clarity, and I just love the stark contrast of the words “puzzling” to “perfect clarity” in the NLT version:
Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.
The ESV translation swaps the words “with perfect clarity” for “face to face”.
“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything face to face…”
Mentioned above but bears repeating, the word “then” is referring to “the time of perfection” referenced in verse 10 which helps us understand that face to face here means when we are face to face with Jesus.
When we are face to face with Jesus, everything will be in perfect clarity. This means every time you’ve ever uttered Why me? If only… Why not? will either make perfect sense or will completely fall away.
Crawford quoted this to me in another way on Wednesday after he listened to this sermon by Tim Keller:
If God is withholding something from you, you simply don’t have all the facts.
Right now, we only see partially and imperfectly because God knows what’s best for our human brains in a broken world, and because we don’t have all the facts.
This means that right now, we have to trust and rely on His precious promises, one of which you are living out this very moment by the very air you breathe and the very thoughts you think:
“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”
He knows you completely right this instant. Not when you get your life together, not when you go 5 days in a row with quiet time, not when you stop yelling at your kids, not when your depression subsides. He knows everything about you right NOW, and He loves you so much He sent Jesus to rescue you. He is not shocked or scared by anything. He is not ashamed of you. He sees you washed by the blood of Jesus, and He calls you HIS. He delights in you! He is sovereign over your life, and while right now we don’t have all the facts and therefore cannot see clearly, we WILL see clearly on the day of Christ Jesus… and it will be perfect.
Count on it!
Father you are so gentle yet so mighty. Only You can do the things you do! Remind us we can trust you. When we want to get angry or defensive or scared because we cannot see the whole picture, please remind us who the Creator is! You’re always working, you’re always good, and you’re always on time. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Suggested Scripture for this Week:
S/M: 1 Corinthians 13:9
What picture feels impartial/incomplete in your life today? Can you ask God to help you trust Him with it?
T: 1 Corinthians 13:10
How does the phrase “the time of perfection” make you feel? Can you thank Him for the coming glory?
W: 1 Corinthians 13:11
Where is it time for you to stop acting like a child but rather mature in your faith walk?
Th: 1 Corinthians 13:12
Do you believe God knows you completely right now? What parts of you are you hiding from Him? Can you invite Him into those?
F: Psalm 18:19
Do you believe that God delights in you? Why or why not?
S: Psalm 16:11
Ask and believe He will show you His will for your life, and ask Him for a willing spirit to accept it!