We're continuing to read through the Gospel of John. Today's reading is John 11:1-44.
The undeniable impact of "yesterday." Read Jn. 11:17. Lazarus was in the tomb three consecutive "yesterdays" plus one "today." "Just accept it" was the common advice. "Whatever 'it' is, 'it' can't change." Have you heard that lie before?
The unwavering hope in "tomorrow." Read Jn. 11:24. Tomorrow – however many of them there may be until Jesus' return and the Millennial Reign – things will finally change. Martha had good, though incomplete, theology. For sure, things will be different come one definite "tomorrow." What about today? Can things be different right now?
The unbearable hardship of "today." Read Jn. 11:25-26. There is hope for "tomorrow." Amen! But is there any hope for "today?" Yes! What Jesus told Martha was this: "What I can and will do in what you call "tomorrow," I can and will do right here, right now. Your answer, your hope, your miracle is not in a timeline or in an event. Your answer, your hope, your miracle is in a living Person, Jesus Christ!" He lives in a constant state of "now."
If all you have is a sinful past, a glorious future and a miserable present, that's surely not "abundant life" (Jn. 10:10b).
Renew your expectation of "now." Continue to look for Christ's "glorious appearing" (Tit. 2:13). Believe also that, until then, Jesus is not on vacation from you. Expect Him to "show up" today, right here, right now.
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