Looking Past the Now

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope. –Matthew 12:18—21

Life’s not fair. I’ve heard that phrase since I was a kid. Honestly, I don’t like it anymore now than I did then. Truth be told, the phrase is legitimate. Life, flat-out stinks some times. It’s not fair and it’s not easy.

A painful breakup, a lost loved one, a phone call reporting cancer, losing a job or not getting a promotion at work, difficulty with the kids, financial strain…you name it, we have all struggled. Life isn’t easy for any of us. In college, I watched two friends on the football team struggle with injuries. One of them had chronic problems with his feet, wincing in pain with each step he took. The other blew out both of his knees within a year of each other. The difference between them: one is a Christian and one was not. One had hope, and one did not. One knew that football was temporary and did not define him; the other did not.

As Christians, we can look past the now. God sent His Son, Jesus, as the Servant who, by His death and resurrection, makes all of the difference for us. It is He Who will bring justice and mercy. It is He Who is the hope of the world. What a gift we have in Jesus! Through Him, hope motivates us to store up treasure in heaven, not treasures on earth. Through Him, we have the promise that God works for the good of those who believe (Romans 8:28). Through Him, we have the hope that this life — with all of its struggles — is just our temporary home before moving onto the glorious eternity with our Father in heaven.

Life will present us all with seasons of challenge, but when the bad news and difficult times come, as a Christian, you can rely on hope. This is the hope that helps us look past the now and focus on Christ’s presence with us, and our future treasures in heaven.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Think through what separates Christians from others. What does Matthew mean when he writes that, “In his name the nations will put their hope”?

2.Think through the struggles you have faced in your life. In what ways did you lean on the Lord? How did that help you through?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 42:5-6; 1 Timothy 4:7-9; Romans 15:13