I am reminded afresh of Jesus’ focus on the present – the now, this day – in His Kingdom download on the mount, pinpointing anxiety as a by-product of any drift away from our faith anchored in His Fatherhood and our foundation centred on His Kingship (Matthew 6:19-34).
After teaching us that “mammon” – and the supposed security money brings – is a formidable rival for our loyalty, Jesus embarks on a lengthily discourse to combat anxiety.
Its relevance to us is both stunning and obvious; stunning, in that this passage is as relevant to us today in the twenty-first century as it was to those in the first; obvious, because we know that the human condition hasn’t improved despite centuries of progress and advancements. We fight a modern version of an ancient problem.
Jesus’ words are profoundly simple and simply profound.
He talks about birds and lilies.
While birds have many natural predators, anxiety is not one of them. In stark contrast, stress is a leading cause of ill-health for many, many people today. As for lilies, they’re also impervious to nail-biting and immune from ulcers.
Jesus asks five probing rhetorical questions, the answers to which are so obvious they’re intended to shake us with a realisation-grabbing “Duh?!”
An example? In contrast to birds, Jesus asks: “Are you not of more value than they?”
His focus on the “present” is captured in the final verse of this particular subject:
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (v. 34)
Of course, the overriding point is that as we anchor in the Father-heart of God, we can live life from a secure foundation of peace and rest1.
However, we just cannot afford to miss the overwhelming focus Jesus puts on our faith in God’s Fatherhood in the immediate, this present day.
What about vision, goal-setting and planning?
Yes, having a clear sense of vision is essential. Setting goals, or faith forecasts, in line with this vision is extremely helpful. And unless we wisely plan we’ll be late for work, default on paying our bills and be an unreliable friend.
However, unless we start on a foundation of rest in the Father-heart of God, a sense of insecurity may spawn goal-setting and planning that is riddled with stress.
What about the hope of Christ’s return and the future age to come?
This is indeed a core subject in Jesus’ teaching and, in my opinion, is one we often misunderstand. This amazing future hope ought to brighten our present, adding vivid colour and meaning to the gift of today. Because of “that Day”, “this day” sizzles with significance and expectancy.
When Jesus taught about His coming, He gave us two parables to inspire our faith and energise our life in the now (Matthew 24:36-51). In the first parable, we’re urged to live each day conscientiously as though He may return imminently (vv. 36-44).
“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (v. 44)
In the second, we’re urged to live constructively as good stewards knowing that should He tarry; we ought to be busy with what Father has entrusted to us (vv. 45-51). There are no points for putting our head in the sand or hiding in the cellar waiting for an escape.
“Blessed is that servant, whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing” (v. 46)
Both instructions – seemingly paradoxical at first, but perfectly balanced for living as an eschatological people – focus on “this day” in preparation for “that Day”. Both exhortations focus on the now, the present – clarifying where our responsibilities lay in “this day”: the first, emphasising our conscientiousness; the second, our constructiveness. It goes without saying that “that Day” is on God’s “to-do list”.
Too often, in my opinion, the return of Christ fuels the anxiety-levels and often adds to the paranoia of our times.
An unfortunate by-product of Messianic expectation is hype and speculation. This is not God’s problem but ours for sure. The Old Testament believers so misunderstood their Messianic hope that when He arrived, they rejected Him. Their sincerity was unbridled; their devotion unparalleled. But their speculation was off the charts and their error was monumental.
We live in a very precarious time in human history. As we “look for and hasten the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:12), we ought to allow this marvellous hope to animate our present with the sublime privilege of walking in relationship with Father God, responding to His gentle promptings moment by moment … day by day.
If we can collectively resolve to turn down the frenetic speculation concerning the world’s economic fragility, the Middle Eastern crisis, weather pattern upheaval and every other news-making headline, we’d all be better for it.
I’m not suggesting that we be ignorant – there is no value in playing dumb. Keeping abreast with what is happening around our world is important and certainly, at the very least, should inform our prayer lives. But allowing what’s happening on the world stage to spawn fever pitch hype and speculation is not just unnecessary but detrimental.
When Jesus reminded us that there will always be unusual happenings on the world stage (Matthew 24:6, 7), He actually said: “see that you are not troubled” for “the end is not yet” (v. 6).
But aren’t these the “signs of the times”? While one may conclude that the increase and intensity in these events today suggest we’re in the last of “the last days”2, Jesus clearly pointed to the issue that should consume our focus. He said:
“And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14)
In other words, the “end” is not determined by or dependent on events in the global arena; it hinges on our faithfulness to His Commission. Yes, informed with what is happening on the world stage, God’s people can better serve our Father’s will. However, speculation and conjecture on these events may in fact cause others to become troubled and work against what Jesus taught us here in Matthew 24.
Okay, out of this eschatological rabbit hole …
Reading Jesus’ words in Matthew 6, I realise the preciousness of this day in light of His ever-increasing Kingdom and the hope of His coming.
With this perspective …
- I learn to combat my tendency to worry
- I learn to see the deceitfulness of temptation
- I learn to slay procrastination
- I learn to resolve conflict in a spirit of love and forgiveness
- I learn to thoroughly revel in the blessings He gives
- I learn to enjoy my successes humbly
- I learn to face my failings honestly
- I learn to work through my trials hopefully
- I learn to make the most of my opportunities enthusiastically
- I learn to work responsibly towards my goals in His rest
Jesus’ focus on the “now” reminds me of God’s revelation to Moses on the backside of the desert. You may recall, bamboozled by a burning bush that was not burning, Moses encountered God.
In this holy moment, God declared:
“I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14)3
This is a remarkable statement of God’s promise to be Present – intimately close and warmly available – in our present.
Our past guilt and disappointment melt in the glory of His faithfulness; “His mercies are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-24).
Our future fears and anxieties evaporate in the glory of His goodness; “your heavenly Father knows what you need” (Matthew 6:32).
The walk of faith is lived one day at a time.
“Father, as I face this new year I rest in Your faithfulness and goodness. I resolve to find You afresh in this present day, responding to Your nudging moment by moment.
I place my confidence in Your ability to sustain and lead me. Help me to hear Your voice clearly and quicken my heart to respond to You fully.
I resolve to live this day in preparation for “that Day” and in light on what I understand is Your call on my life.
I love You so much”.
Notes:
1 Of course, this is not an excuse for checking out of life and settling for a Lazy-Boy existence. Yet, as we’re responsible with what God has put in our hands, we are to enjoy each and every day knowing He is our Source and Sustainer.
2 Biblically, the term “the last days” refers to the church age, between Christ’s ascension to heaven and return, His parousia. Thus we are living in the last days today even as the early church lived in the last days two thousand years ago (see 1 Corinthians 10:11; Acts 2:17; 2 Timothy 3:1; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 John 2:18; 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 17, 18).
3 When God revealed Himself as “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14), He used a broadened version of the word Jehovah implying the summation of all the wonderful character qualities associated with His covenantal nature.
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