Already, Not Yet...

Do you know this image? It's the image that comes to mind every time the topic of Heaven comes up with my young kids. Often times, we'll chat about loved ones (humans and pets) that we've lost and inevitably, they'll ask about Heaven.

"Daddy, where is Heaven?"

Another child will respond with, "It's up there?"

Still, another one will say, "No! Remember? Daddy told us it's all around us, we just can't see it yet." Sort of.

A for effort! This is what conversations are like in a pastor's home, I guess.

As I attempt to describe the concept of Heaven to my young elementary aged kids, the best illustration that was once spoken to me always comes to mind. It is rooted in the idea of the "Already, but not yet" perspective of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let me explain, much like I might to my kids.

When you go to the movie theater (well, when we use to go to movie theaters before COVID-19), you might arrive a little bit early, get your popcorn and coke, go find your seat and sit down just in time to see the previews--the upcoming movies that haven't been released yet.

You get glimpses, snippets, or fragments of the upcoming movie. It intrigues you. It entices you. There's dramatic music and words spoken by the actors and actresses that tease out just a hint of the story that you don't fully know yet. Then it fades to black and the title for the upcoming movie flashes across the scene and you're left with a few seconds to decide in your mind, "Oh man! I want to see that!"

The movie has been made. It's already done. All of the scenes have been shot and now all the actors and actresses are out promoting the upcoming movie. You are simply getting a preview, a foretaste, a glimpse into the future. Now you have a decision to make whether or not you'll come back to the theater when the movie is released.

The "already, not yet" concept of the Kingdom of Heaven is understood well by this metaphor. God has ALREADY accomplished a great work in the earthly ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus the Christ; as well as the birth of the church. Perhaps you've heard the old hymn lyric, "Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again!" But...NOT YET.

There's more. While Christ is Lord and has already defeated death and the Kingdom of Heaven is here on earth, it is not yet fully realized. God has empowered us--the actors and actresses, if you will--to be ambassadors of this already-made movie and to go out and promote it so others will see it, experience it, and participate in it. There's even some excitement and joy for the present reality as we wait for more. That's the good news. There's also some bad news.

Not everyone thinks it's going to be a good movie. Not everyone likes the preview. Not everyone believes it's a compelling story. Not everyone trusts the plot will be fully resolved. And definitely, not everyone participates in the promotion of the movie.

In terms of the Kingdom of Heaven, perhaps you're connecting the metaphor. Not everyone is on board, because they are distracted by the present reality. There is still pain and suffering, division and hate, injustice and despair. This is why it's essential to hold the already/not yet concept in tension.

The already gives us the confidence to move forward and participate in the same work as Jesus,

Preach good news to the poor

Release the captives

Give sight to the blind

Set the oppressed free

Proclaim the favor of God

-Luke 4:18-19

The not yet gives us the hope that this is not all there is. There's more in Christ. The Kingdom of Heaven has not fully revealed itself. We've gotten glimpses, but not the whole. There is still a reason for us to be here and to enact justice. If I were to go back to the movie preview metaphor, it means that I still have to get my ticket or at least save my money to purchase my ticket. I have to put it on my schedule when I'm going to go see the movie. I have to invite my family and/or friends who I want to come with me to the movie. There's preparation involved and work to be done because the final viewing is not fully realized. 

In the same way, Jesus says to pray that the Kingdom would come here on earth as it is in Heaven. 

-Matthew 6:10 (paraphrased)

What might all this mean in our current climate? What might all this mean in the face of despicable racial injustices? People who have been marginalized, but who also identify as followers of Jesus could probably understand and cling to this hopeful concept more than me.

People of color, specifically black and brown Americans have had to endure incredibly slow moves or transitions of change from emancipation to being considered more than 3/5 of a human, from persevering through Jim Crow to civil rights, from Black Lives Matter to....

...to what? Where will we go from here? Sure, there's been some already movements established in a social or legal sense, but considering the still very present racism and white supremacy in our nation and even in our churches, the not yet for our black and brown brothers and sisters is still very much not yet fully realized. It may even seem rather impossible. Not only is there a hope for the not yet expression of the Kingdom of Heaven, but even more there is a very simple desperation for equality just in this life. Black lives mattering is merely the most basic human standard. Black lives are also worthy, beautiful, valuable, needed in light of the Gospel where God says in Christ all of humanity are the Imago Dei--made in the image of God.

This means our work is still very necessary and even required as followers of Jesus. Scroll back up and reread that passage from Luke and invite the Holy Spirit to keep convicting you and moving you.