31 Days of Victory : {Day 23} The Present Glory

To get a glimpse of how the present meets eternity,

visualize the glory of the heaven’s meeting the earth.

I recently took a wonderful class on the literature of C.S. Lewis. Those of you who are familiar with his work know that he was a genius. It’s not surprising that I was challenged and encouraged in my faith as I read through his writings. One of my favorite Lewis books is The Screwtape Letters. It’s a fictional piece from the perspective of a devil named Screwtape. Each chapter of the book is a letter addressed to a young demon in training. The content reveals the schemes of the enemy and his strategies to destroy believers. It’s a fascinating work.

One concept that really stood out to me in that book is the consideration of the present, verses the past and the future; the idea that the enemy distracts us from being present. According to Lewis, and biblical truth, though we live in time, we are destined to eternity. God therefore, wants us to attend chiefly to two things, to eternity itself, and to that point of time, which we call the present. Lewis explains the reason: “For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity.”

Allow me to expound on that for a moment. When our thoughts are fixed on the past, we can become quickly consumed by the "shoulda, coulda, woulda’s". We might find ourselves chained to regret, guilt, or shame. From another perspective, we can also be consumed by our past victories, or the “good ol’ days”, taking our mind off the present glory. Likewise, when we fix our eyes on the future [not eternity – but what we believe will be our future in this life], we are inflamed with all types of imaginations. It is at that point that our minds are filled with “When I’s”… {When I get that Job, everything will be better. When I have this much money saved, I’ll be content. When I find a spouse, life will feel complete. When I get through this trial, all will be well… etc.} or F.E.A.R. {Future Events Appearing Real.}.

Because the future is unknown to us, we begin to think of unrealities. Lewis states, “The Future is, of all things, the thing least like eternity. It is the most temporal part of time—for the Past is frozen and no longer flows, and the Present is all lit up with eternal rays.” He goes on to say, “Nearly all vices are rooted in the Future. Gratitude looks to the Past {reflecting on fond memories, or sometimes we're grateful that the past is over} and love looks to the Present; [however,] fear, avarice [greed], lust, and [selfish] ambition look ahead.”

Of course, God wants us to think of the future too—“just so much as is necessary for now planning the acts of justices or charity which will probably be [our] duty tomorrow." Lewis states. "The duty of planning the morrow’s work is today’s duty; though its material is borrowed from the Future, the duty, like all duties, is [still] in the Present.”

Outside of eternal glory, it is only in the present that we are able to experience freedom and victory. When we live in the present we can obey the present voice of conscience, bear the present cross, receive the present grace, and give thanks for the present pleasure.

Are you living in the past?

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” Isaiah 43:17-19

Are you so focused on the unknown future that you’re neglecting the present joy?

Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone. Let’s make the most of every opportunity today.

In the present we can share our love and give thanks to God. In the present we can make an impact through a note, a kind text, a hug or a gift. In the present we can honor others with service—even the smallest act of charity can change someone’s direction. In the present we can count our blessings and thank God for the bread He provided for our table. In the present we can worship through the trials and grow through perseverance. In the present, we can be firmly grounded and ready for battle. In the present we can leave the past behind. In the present we can have peace that the future is in His hands. In the present we can walk in our God-given-gifts and bear our God-given-fruit. In the present God’s light can shine through us like a city on a hill. In the present we can build the Kingdom.

Victory is here, in the present, where today meets eternity. {That makes my heart happy!} Let's make it count.

Monique Zackery

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