1 Peter 5:10-14
Time works in funny ways. When my first child was born, the days (and nights) were so long. With nothing else to do, no other focus, nothing to distract, the hours drug by until finally another 24 went in the books.
As my kids grew, there were still long days, for sure, but the weeks ticked by faster. Still time moved slow enough that it felt like we would be in the toddler-preschool phase forever, eternally, without any end at all. The day when my children would both be in elementary school was so far away it was laughable.
But, of course, the time came. My youngest went off to kindergarten last fall while my older is in 1st grade. And just like that, my season changed, my life changed. Time had marched on after all.
I shouldn’t have been surprised. I’ve learned this lesson before. Agonizing for so many years about my apparently unending unmarriageable status, waiting impatiently for the right man to come along, I was convinced my time just wasn’t coming. But sure enough it did, bringing the right (and handsome!) man along with it.
The years of waiting felt so long. But looking back, I realize how they flew by.
Time likes to play these kinds of tricks on us, and we fall for her schemes.
But all of this, this whole life you have and I have, it’s truly only a little while. In the grand scheme of a God outside time, who created our days and weeks and years, who keeps all moving right along, our lives here are but a little while.
And then we will be called home by the God of all grace, called to his eternal glory in Christ, where we will abide forevermore. There he will restore us, every part of us finally made whole, unbroken and restored to the original and very good plan of God. He will confirm us, recognize us as his own, call us by his name. The seal of the Holy Spirit will be fulfilled as we fully enter our rightful place within the family of God. Forevermore.
He will strengthen us, fully and completely, as he makes us like his Son Jesus Christ. We will no longer know weakness against sin, weakness against temptation, weakness of body, mind or emotion. We will be complete in him, perfect like him. And he will establish us, our place with him forevermore.
Whatever we have lost, whatever has been broken, wherever we have hurt, whatever the cost – he will make it all right. Not just for a little while. Forevermore.
It’s a picture so beautiful, so awe-inspiring, that my only response can be
Thank you Jesus.
Thank you Lord.
You deserve all the glory,
Forever and ever.
My God of abundant, all-consuming grace.
I am yours and you are mine,
forevermore.
This is his promise to those whom he loves and those who love him. This is the true grace of God.
Stand firm in it.
Stand firm in his grace, in his love. Remember. Abide here. Hold onto it with everything you’ve got.
This is all but a little while.
The promise is coming. It’s already yours.
Just a little while longer.
Stand firm.
Forevermore.
Come, Lord Jesus. Come. Amen.
