In Between Earth and Heaven.

Life as a Christian sometimes feels as an eclectic warring between good and evil; between "I have it figured out" and sometimes "I do not know what on earth I'm doing." It plays itself out in the individual's life as sometimes a vocal assault on the imperfections of human beings and sometimes a quiet acceptance of dealing with the same. It imprints itself to the beauty of a life that is counter-cultural and some other times a participation of the cultural delights and pleasures. It is easy in light of this for the Christian to feel as if he is on the straight ticket to hell, while at other times, that Heaven is a reality on earth. And both point towards very crucial existential realities.

These contradictions of the Christian life indicate the reality of the phrases "the kingdom has come" and "the Kingdom will come" It is really a reality that is real. On one hand a life that is consumed by the life that Jesus Christ gives alludes to the fact that indeed Heaven has come to earth; as the emissary of God and simultaneously, as the exact representation of his Being, He is embodied truth. On the other hand, the long-term effects of the imperfections of sin on the human being, the bearer of God's image, remain. And the promise of God is that He is restoring.

In between heaven and earth, we are reminded daily that there is something wrong with the world and not only the world, but something wrong with us. Yet, with Jesus Christ, we are reminded that it doesn't have to be that way. Though we may play rock, paper, scissors to prove which is which, sometimes we cut ourselves. Even in this cutting, the Physician is always ready to  perform surgery - ongoing surgery. It is clear that I cannot depend on my feelings, because my feelings change. But I can depend on the promises of God. The promise that a life of faith can give me hope; not only in the future, but also now. As I humbly face the imperfections in my life, I find that I can not only remorsefully approach God; but joyously too: That God is mending me, and that God has declared an oath towards me, if only I continue in the journey of obedient faith.

It is true that we already possess these promises since we are in Christ; yet we will also possess them in full when we meet him: One has present reality and the other future fulfillment. It is this "now" and "then" that gives me solace in my sojourn. It is this life and promise of God, which is unbreakable even unbendable, that anchors my soul. Through the sometimes heavy currents of the life of the soul, and in other times, the lighter ones, the "now" and "then" promises of God gives my heart strength. Though I may sometimes feel red, the whiteness of the blood of Jesus has and shall consume me whole and present me as a worthy bride to my bridegroom. Till then, in the in between, I shall continue to remain hopeful and filled with the joy of salvation; God knows my infirmities, but He will not leave me there. He is renewing me, in the in between.