Now - Not Yet
As we wrap up this six week journey through the book of Zechariah we have seen that God’s desire is to do something new in our lives. This requires from us, the work of his presence, a fresh perspective which leads to freedom, obedience and faith, and a true heart of worship.
At Christmas time, generally speaking, there are two groups of people when it comes to our desire to open the gifts under our Christmas trees. There are those who as soon as they appear desire to open them and use them and those who enjoy the waiting the prolonged anticipation of the season.
Whether you identify with one of these or find yourself ambivalent, it is rare that you can have something now and have it not yet.
You can’t go back and watch your favorite movie again for the first time, but if you could you would forgo the experience you already had at its first viewing. You can’t eat the best meal of your life for dinner and then eat that same meal again for breakfast.
Rarely do we ever get to enjoy BOTH the now and the not yet.
In Christ, God wants us to each live a victorious life, both in the now and the future. God desires that we live lives marked by victory. In Zechariah chapter nine we see that we can rejoice because we have victory through the completed work of Jesus and the hope of what is yet to come.
In Zechariah 9:9-12 we are given a prophecy that is interesting because of the duality of its nature. Zechariah prophesies in verse 9 of Jesus and his first advent. This prophecy is fulfilled in John 12:12-15.
The victory we experience now, is in Jesus and his faithfulness to conquer sin and death.
1 Corinthians 15:57 tells us that sin was what gave death its power over us, but Jesus took back the power through his death, burial and resurrection.
Jesus gives us victory today, in what he did on the cross, over our sin and temptation.
This prophecy continues to speak of things which we have not yet seen. It speaks of a day where God’s people will have no more enemies and peace will cover the earth. Though this has not yet been fulfilled it still gives us victory when we see that God has been faithful to fill verse 9 we can believe in the day where verse 10 is likewise.
We have victory in the belief of what is still yet to come! This is a victory over meaninglessness. You are not an accident! God has placed you here for such a time as this. You are called, created and chosen! The victory of what is yet to come tells us that even in the monotony God has a plan.
This is also a victory over the hopelessness of the world. Zechariah calls God’s people, “prisoners of hope” in verse 12. Let this be our definition. People who are marked by a hope-filled faith of what God has done in the now and what God will do in the not yet.
What is one thing that stood out to you from this week's message or your small group?
What marks the beginning of a new life in Christ for a believer? How does this give us victory in the “now”?
How has your life changed since you became a believer? If you’ve never done that, what keeps you from giving your life to Jesus?
What does it mean that we have victory in the “not yet”? How can we be victorious if something hasn’t happened?
