now and forever‏

2 Peter 3:18 

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

I was listening to the Rizers with my kids this past weekend when my mind adhered to these two words:

 

Now AND forever.

 

I think the problem with much of what passes as Christianity in the Western world suffers from a lack of “now.”

 

We think that we will one day worship Jesus when we get to Heaven or that allusive “better place” that is so often spoken of in reference to a loved one lost.

 

Our plan, in the interim however, is to get as much out of this place as possible.

 

Ya know, really wring it out for all its goodness and then retire to a life of dullness in some better place where we will worship God because there is nothing else left to do.

 

But that is not what the verse says.

 

The verses says He deserves glory now AND forever.

 

Do not plan to worship God someday.

Worship Him today!

 

Hebrews 3:12-15

¹² Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.¹³ But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.¹⁴ For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.¹⁵ As it is said,

 

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”