Now and Not Yet
On the 8 September 2022 Queen Elizabeth II died. At that moment her eldest Son, Prince Charles became the King.
This Saturday, 6 May 2023, is his Coronation. The ceremony will see His Majesty King Charles III crowned alongside his wife Camilla, The Queen Consort. It will take place at Westminster Abbey, London, and will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Royal website says, ‘The Coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.’
Union Jack flags and bunting springing up, and shop windows have Coronation displays. Playgroups and schools will mark the occasion, and we are all encouraged to make, share and eat the ‘Coronation quiche’!
On Saturday, thousands will flock to our capital to witness the ceremony, whilst many others will watch it from home, including me.
It’s eight months between Charles becoming King and the Coronation itself. In that time, he has lived with a sense of ‘now and not yet’. He has the title but not been ‘officially’ crowned.
This phrase ‘now and not yet’ is something that I think about with regards to the Christian faith. Jesus lived, died, was resurrected, returned to heaven, and one day he shall return!
In the meantime, He gave the Holy Spirit to help all believers. Since then, the ‘church’ has continued to grow, with many people becoming Christians, and God’s power is still changing people’s lives for the better.
However, life can still be hard. Difficult, painful, and horrible things still happen. So, we live in the tension of God at work amidst the struggles of life.
But there is hope, a light at the end of the tunnel. The last book in the Bible, Revelation predicts what will happen when Jesus returns…
“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
I think that future sounds amazing, but that is ‘not yet’. Here’s the good news: it is available to all, right here and ‘now’. So how do you get it? The Bible tells us to believe in Jesus and follow Him!
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader