A NOW God For A NOW Season

As things were moved around the basement, I was struck with the fact that it looked much like my old basement. A short while later I was in the middle of town and I was struck with how beautiful this old town had become. It was like I had just watched time lapse photography of the community coming together. I heard the words “Fantastic Friday” on a sound system some where. I walked around and admired the seemingly impossible beauty of the place. This scripture was on a sign at the road into this community. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Another sign said “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.” (Joel 2:25-26)

I awoke thinking the dream had just taken me to my childhood community. (I never dream like that.) And I thought if “He can make that new…”

Too often we think God can not or will not restore. It is a mindset. A mind set against his word. Often a mindset or position predicated on our lack of relationship with the one who loves us.

I have noticed a “trend” in our fellowship. Often a new person comes in with no real paradigm for church or Christ. They hear a message of Christ and His goodness, grace and the finished work. They grab on to it and in a few months are doing amazing. (The last shall be first.) Meanwhile I often see the struggles of people taking old ways of thinking about God and trying to “wrap their brain” around grace. The task is seemingly more difficult. A lot of “what about this scripture or what about that scripture” has to be unraveled from previous thinking. The person with no paradigm for church or grace has not such task. (The first shall be last???)

Grace is a free gift. Your choice to put it in a closet and “see” versus taking it out and playing with it is totally up to you. I would suggest…PLAY!

We are in a tremendous season of restoration. The Lord showed me the basement to reveal to me my own background, but it easily could be yours. The basement might have been full of “stuff” hidden away, not revealed. In the dream it was emptied and clean and the foundation secure. A community hidden away, forgotten by time being restored, changed. My sense of community is being restored.

God is here to make all things new, now. Now, today. I know many think I am “pushing” the now word but too often we are missing out on now because we are focused on “then” or “to come”. You can not have now while focused on then. Meaning you can not see “restoration” while holding on to yesterday. Yesterday is an anchor withholding His hand of goodness. (Perhaps a kairos moment is simply a result of holding on to yesterday or reaching out to tomorrow.) And striving for tomorrow is no better. (Though I believe you can pull tomorrow into today!)

Our thoughts must be centered on “this is the day the Lord has made”. (Too often I see people with one foot in yesterday and one foot in tomorrow, peeing on today!) If THIS is the day the Lord has made why do you want to be somewhere else? (Yesterday, tomorrow, etc..)

NOW faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 Now is NOW! When you look at God now He becomes active…NOW! (So excited I spilled my coffee!)

I encourage you today to start seeing God as the the God of the Now, and expecting Him to become an active part of your daily life! There is no better time than Now!