Now & Then
There is a phrase that theologians often use when referring to the gift of eternal life or the scope of God’s redemptive plan, that phrase is, “For now, in part, and then, in full.” This is a phrase that can be both helpful and confusing for us as everyday believers. Let’s unpack it.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. – 1 Cor. 13:12
This verse offered by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth is a helpful mooring point for us in this discussion. Paul is reminding them (and us) that as we grow in Christ, specifically in the context of Godly love, we are not going to arrive or ever be perfect on this side of heaven. That truth does not need to cause us to give up on the worthwhile pursuit of godliness, though, because we will one day get to experience in full what we are experiencing now in part. So, run after it now, even though it is only a foretaste of what is to come! Why? Four factors to answer that.
- Clarity – As we pursue godliness and victory in Christ here and now (even in part), it keeps us focused on the goal of being like Christ. That is, it offers us clarity in the confusing and difficult times of our lives. How many times have we been on the verge of giving up with a goal or a goal or a project? Frustration has set in, things have become challenging, and we ask ourselves, “What’s the point? Why am I doing this?” If we’re honest, we’ve been there and will be there again in our spiritual lives. So, when I keep in mind that becoming like Jesus on this side of heaven is a process that comes with ups and downs, it helps me keep my eyes fixed on the prize of godliness and not through the baby out with the bathwater.
- Expectations – When I sit with a couple who is engaged and excited about getting married, I always take time to press in on their spoken and unspoken expectations for their future spouse. Why? Because healthy and appropriate expectations are crucial for a healthy marriage. And, to be honest, they are crucial for health in every relationship that we have, even our relationship with Christ. See, it isn’t that he has unhealthy or burdensome expectations of us, but so often, we place burdensome expectations on ourselves. So, when I keep Paul’s words close to my heart, it helps to keep my expectations of personal growth in check. It reminds me that yes, I am to be growing, and no, I won’t be perfect on this side of heaven. So, don’t beat yourself up (Jesus isn’t), and don’t give up on godliness.
- Hope – Hope is something that we see in pop culture all the time. It comes up around election cycles, holidays, it is a driving thematic force in film and television, and more than one of us has picked up décor from Hobby Lobby with “Hope” inscribed in various artistic fashions. The simple plain truth is that we long for hope in the deepest parts of ourselves. The good news is that hope (real, lasting, and enduring) has been made possible through Jesus. Hope in the biblical frame is not a fleeting wish or some “it would be nice” thought. It is the confidence that I am okay and it is going to be okay because of the one I belong to and his ability to fully restore all things in the end. That means I can have and experience hope in the middle of very difficult circumstances. It is also why “now in part and then in full” is so helpful. We have hope now because we have experienced God’s redemption, and we operate in forward hope and trust because we know that God will do what he promises. We do not have to live in despair even in the midst of our trials (yes, they are hard, and yes, we get weary) because, in Christ, we have experienced true hope now and will experience it in full in the age to come.
- Faithfulness – All of these factors ultimately work together. Clarity keeps us focused on the goal and helps us to see what God has done. As we see what God has done, we are prompted to keep our expectations of ourselves in a healthy frame because we are routinely bathed in grace. That repeated work and experience of grace reminds the deepest parts of us that we are secure in Christ and he will do all he promised because of what he has already done. When we allow those factors to work together, they result in faithfulness and endurance. This is precisely what Jesus was doing when he wrote to the seven churches in Revelation. He offered them clarity, reframed expectations, reminded them of the hope that is in him, and called them to continued faithfulness.
Sometimes the phrases we use in church or in Christian circles can feel tired or trite. That is okay. It is also why we need to rediscover their depth and importance from time to time. So, when we say, “now in part, and then, in full,” it is not some pithy saying. It is a reminder of the fullness of the gospel’s work in us and the joyful expectancy of God to fulfill his promises. And it helps us endure and to be found faithful in every season we find ourselves.