From Now On...

October 31st

I woke up early this morning wondering how long I could hold my breath. It was a very strange dream. I was watching a boy holding onto a rope underwater, with weights on his feet in a deep pool, like one of those fear factor reality shows that I detest. He was running out of air and needed to come up badly but the weights on his feet were dragging him down.

I always change the channel if something like that comes on, but my only option in the dream was to wake up and try to shake it off. So I layed there for awhile and started praying.

Came down here to the office at 6 and had emails from some dear old friends. One, in Canada, used to work in a neighboring tribe, ten minutes by small aircraft or about six hours by land from us. Now he's dealing with knee surgeries and is unable to walk.

Another dear friend in Australia sent an update. Doug is the original Crocodile Dundee who used to work in another tribe in Papua, wrote about his current struggle with cancer that's invading his eye and surrounding brain cavity. After weeks and weeks of MRIs and cat scans and delays, he's still waiting for the surgery that will remove his left eye. He sent this grand conclusion to all his troubles...

Tolstoy talks of peoples differing attitudes, 1. Life is bad so get drunk to evade and forget. 2. Life is bad but struggle against it – the stoical attitude. 3. Life is bad so do the logical thing – commit suicide. 4. Life is bad but go on living, accepting life as it comes.

None of these being the Christian approach to life, American writer, Edward Borroughs puts it correctly, when he says. ‘Christianity combines the most absolute pessimism about man’s unaided powers with an unquenchable optimism as to what in God’s hands it may become.’

Jesus expressed that optimism when he stood before the Sanhedrin and said, “from NOW on,” Luke 22:69, the Son of Man will be seated - ‘FROM NOW ON’. We too can stand in that confidence.

+++++

I want to live in the "from now on"!

My life on earth here has been radically divided into the before and after. I look at pictures and think, oh yes, that was before. Then the missing face of my dear Frank in all the big events since that line was drawn depicts an after diagnosis, or an after seizure, or finally, after he died.

Then I quickly rally that optimism and say, BUT after all this has run its course there will be a glorious ever-after! There will come a time that these lines will blur and time will be no more. We will live in the great from now on that Jesus talked about. I can't wait!

So what's running through my head this morning is that we CAN live in the from now on right here and now. I'm thinking about the timing of Jesus' words. When he said that, he hadn't stood before Pilate yet. He still had the scourging and the humiliation and the cross before him. Yet he said, "from NOW on", and I realize that he was already living in that positional truth.

And when you read through this section of Luke, five times the issue of his identity is questioned. Twice from the soldiers and the crowd when they sneered, "Let him save himself IF HE IS the Christ." The council asked, "Are you the Son of God?" He answered plainly, "I am." Then Pilate asked, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He said again, "Yes, it is as you say." Then the criminal on the cross asked, "Aren't you the Christ?" And Jesus' answer started with the beautiful words, "I tell you the truth, TODAY..."

Now. Today! Jesus lived in the from now on. So can we. We need to set our minds on his word and believe in the One who lifts all our burdens. He aligns the planets, rules over every evil power, and conquers all our enemies. Even death, when he neared that door, could not obliterate his view of what lays beyond it. Today, paradise!

Imagine what went through that ruffian's mind and heart to think that he could be so close to something so wonderful. He was hanging there in agony. Blood and sweat and blinding pain coursed through his veins. A lifetime of regrets and bad choices led him to that awful punishment and the cruel justice of the Roman guards. He knew he deserved it. Now his hands were tied and his feet were bound. Helpless. Humiliated. Pinned to his past, he hung there in utter abandonment.

Somehow, his mind kept going. He heard the soldiers mocking. He heard them challenge this lamb of God. "He saved others; let him save himself IF HE IS THE CHRIST OF GOD, the CHOSEN ONE." Then with all the strength and focus he could muster, he turned and looked at Jesus. Something different about this man. Something pure and separate. Though nearing death, there was a knowing, an inner strength that seemed to sustain him.

"Father, forgive them, they don't know what they're doing," he heard him pray as they divided up his clothes. Could he be? Then he spoke the words that changed it all. "Jesus, remember me..." A very simple plea but a very real and forward faith... "WHEN you come into your kingdom."

Of all the things that he couldn't do, he did the ONLY thing, the smartest thing that he could do. He looked at Jesus.

Of course we weren't there and maybe none of the gospel writers noticed it, but I believe that right there on the cross, a smile crossed his lips. I believe the Lord's eyes glowed with pride and happiness. Right there in his final hour, another soul was saved, even as the blood that paid for his soul was still fresh on his tearing skin.

Lord, remember me too! I want to cry. Remember me with my breaking heart. Remember me in the pain and loneliness. Remember me in a frightening future. And then I look with the eyes of faith and I feel his assuring smile. I imagine his eyes glowing with love and joy, and all else fades. He invites me to live in the from now on. He meets me in the promise of paradise today.

This is my Lord who I love. His Name is Jesus.


No matter what you are facing, no matter what your fears for tomorrow, you can live in the from now on too. Turn to him and ask him for the grace that you need. He will surprise you.

"Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For your life is now hidden with [him]... When Christ appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
Colossians 3:1-4

++++++++++++++