Eschatologically, we are suspended between what was, what is and what is to come.
Inherent in this suspension is tension. What is the nature of this tension? What are its effects on the believer?
This eschatological tension provides a compelling metaphor for the everyday suspense of our journey with Christ. As we walk with Christ we are keenly aware of the constant tug of what we used to be, what we are now, and what we are becoming (our anticipated future).
How did the person/people of God handle this tension?
How did their choices provide a clearer foreshadowing of the future reality?
How did they connect/draw upon their past realities?
How did their perception of past and future realities alter their present decisions/attitudes?
This is a very interesting idea to me. Perhaps the first person that comes to mind is Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of suspension between what he desired to do and what the Father desired for him to do is almost tangible as you read through the gospels. In fact, it produced such agony that it caused physical complications, even.
Perhaps one of the most interesting things is the simple fact that Jesus did not want to die, or at least he did not want to die on a cross. We often see Christ resolutely marching to the cross, and perhaps we should, but we should also see this very human moment in the garden.
A powerful lesson that Jesus modeled in this situation is submission. In fact all of his life was submitted to the Father's will, but this is the only time that I'm aware of, where it is clear that he didn't want to. However, even in this crucible - his most desperate hour - he was able to bend his knee to the Father's will.