July 18 – The Now and the Not Yet in Scripture
We live in the time between times — the already and the not yet — and this is the place where faith grows. N. T. Wright
Gregg’s Reflection
I remember standing on our deck one early morning, the sun just cresting the ridge, painting the valley in gold. It was breathtaking — and yet the shadows still lingered in places the light hadn’t reached. That moment reminded me of the “now and not yet” nature of God’s Kingdom. We catch glimpses of glory, tastes of redemption, moments of beauty that feel like heaven breaking in — and yet suffering, injustice, and brokenness remain.
Living in this tension can be uncomfortable. We long for the day when all will be made right, but God calls us to faithfulness now, even when the story isn’t finished. The challenge is to live as if the Kingdom is already here, loving, forgiving, and working for peace, while holding on to the hope that one day, God’s reign will be complete.
This way of living asks us to trust in God’s promises more than in our circumstances. It is an invitation to walk by faith, to rejoice in the light we see, and to keep moving toward the light that is yet to come.
Scripture
The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!
Mark 1:15
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all.
Romans 8:24
But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:13
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.
Romans 13:12
Ancient Quotes
Between the present world and the world to come there is a veil; yet even now the light of that future glory shines faintly through.
Origen, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book I
The world is not yet transformed, but in the faithful the beginning of that transformation has already begun.
Gregory the Great, Homilies on the Gospels, Homily 32
Modern Quotes
We live in the time between times — the already and the not yet — and this is the place where faith grows.
N. T. Wright, Surprised by Hope, p. 208
The Kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed. It is already among you — yet still ahead of you.
Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, p. 28
The tension of the already and the not yet is the very place where hope becomes endurance.
Richard Rohr, The Universal Christ, p. 187
Journaling Prompts
- Where in your life have you seen “glimpses of the Kingdom” recently?
- What challenges you most about living in the tension between promise and fulfillment?
- How might God be inviting you to act as if the Kingdom is already here?
👉 Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 29 Reflection: Kingdom of God/Now and Not Yet