In the Sweet Bye and Bye?

“...tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the coming age.” (Hebrews 6:5)

I grew up singing about some day in the sweet bye and bye when everything would finally be good. I remember how many of the people who attended church with me back then testified about another day. They cried as they shared about how wonderful it would be to cross over the Jordan and finally see the wonder and power of God.

Their futuristic sentiment was reflected in the lyrics of a hymn we sang virtually every Sunday:

"When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"1

I suppose that after Christ comes back at some time in the future, they believed that they would finally have a little joy in their hearts. But until then they were going to have to find a way to deal with all their bitterness and distractions. While the elusive future was always filled with hope, the present was always dark and challenging.

This is largely the same sentiment I get whenever I listen to contemporary Christian Music. Driving down the road the other day I heard a popular song on the local Christian station affirming:

Troubled soul don't lose your heart
Cause joy and peace He brings
And the beauty that's in store
Outweighs the hurt of life's sting

But I hold onto this hope
And the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day
When the burdens of this place Will be no more"2

Yes, there are many problems and issues that affect people and it will certainly be glorious to see Jesus face-to-face at some time in the future. Yet, why do Christians seem to have such an escapist outlook that only finds meaning and hope in the future.

The Word of God is clear in affirming that believers can experience the strength and glory of God now! The writer of Hebrews writes in 6:5 about a people who had already tasted of the "powers of the coming age." In other words the glory of the future was already breaking in on them now. If this couldn’t be experienced, the writer of Hebrews would never have framed it as an option.

Nobody seems to be telling believers that we can experience the "glory of the future" today.

I don't know about you, but I am ready to taste of the glory of the coming age now!

Notes

1. "How Great Thou Art" - Carl Gustav Boberg (1859–1940)

2. "There Will Be a Day" - Jeremy Camp