We’re continuing our discussion about the eighth day, focusing on the tension between the “now” and “not yet.” We’re living as Christians now, while waiting for Jesus to return.

We know the new creation and new heaven and earth are coming, but we’re stuck here in the present.

Waiting isn’t fun.

The early church expected Jesus to return soon and stayed ready.
Now, 2000 years later, we’re still waiting for Jesus to come in glory, for the resurrection of the dead, and for everything to be remade.

That’s worth waiting for, but what do we do while we wait? Do we just sit around?

It’s frustrating that while waiting, we’re still in a broken world full of sin with hurting and suffering people.

How do we stay in this broken, dirty world when the new world will be perfect and wonderful?

The answer is relying on Jesus—our God who provides for us physically and spiritually.

He’s not distant in our suffering but comes to us.

He came as a man and comes to us now in Word and sacrament.

When dealing with the “now” and waiting, we’re reminded that we can do nothing on our own.

Everything we have is a gift from God. We gather around the body and blood of Jesus Christ, which is the meal that sustains our faith.

We remember our baptisms daily as the old Adam drowns and the new self is put on.

We receive forgiveness from our pastors in Jesus’ place.

Another overlooked gift is vocations, which is the good work God has set for us to do and others to do for us.

We’re not waiting in vain.

We’re living Christian lives, loving our neighbors, serving them as we would serve Christ, seeing everyone as someone for whom Christ died.

Waiting is hard, especially in a world that hates Jesus.

But we’re not waiting alone. We wait with the early church, fellow believers, and Jesus who’s always with us.

Contributor Deaconess Emma Heinz serves as the Registrar of Higher Things.

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