Is Life All About the Here and Now? I. Introduction A. As conscious creatures humans seek to find meaning in existence and in all things B. The questions of “who am I?” and “why am I here?” have pressed strongly on the minds of people as long as they have been able to wonder about existence C. We do well to explore the question: what is life all about? D. For Christians there is the true answer to the question: relational unity with God and one another to obtain and truly enjoy eternal life (cf. John 17:20-23) 1. God made us in His image, desires to maintain relationship with offspring (Genesis 1:26-27, Acts 17:25-29) 2. We have strayed from the ways of God and are subject to sin and death; God has reconciled us through Jesus (Romans 3:1-23, 5:6-11) 3. In Christ we can find reconciliation with God, the right, good, and healthy way to live, a call for resistance against the forces of darkness over the present age, and true reconciliation with our fellow man (Galatians 5:17-24, Ephesians 2:1-20, 4:11-16, 6:10-18) 4. In Christ we have the hope of resurrection, eternal life in the presence of God (Philippians 3:1-21, Revelation 21:1-22:6) E. While the Christian may “know” these things, does he or she live like it? Has this “knowledge” penetrated the heart and the actions? F. We all too often give lip service to what we know is true from what God has made known in Scripture and end up capitulating to “alternative” meanings for life G. We should not find this surprising; the pull toward worldly ways of thinking is great, and many remain wedded to them! H. In order to exhort one another toward relational unity with God and one another, we do well to expose the various purposes to life made ultimate in the world offered as substitutes I. Let us explore the general attitude we see so prevalently at work in the world: living for the here and now J. Is life all about the here and now? II. The Tyranny of the Present A. So many of the major trends shaping culture and society today point us toward the tyranny of the present! B. The secular consensus has landed upon Epicureanism as its primary philosophy 1. Scientific reasoning is all-important; scientific evidence is the basis upon which to derive all other knowledge, understanding, and meaning 2. Of all the philosophies only Epicureanism is fully compatible with such a scientific obsession: the belief that all things are really atoms crashing into each other, no greater meaning 3. As a result, life is only about the here and now; thus, live so as to avoid pain and enjoy what is true pleasure in life 4. In late capitalism we have married Epicureanism to consumerism and hedonism: seek whatever you think is pleasurable, and find your value in what you are able to use, enjoy, and then throw away C. Society is very proud of itself in terms of its “progress” and finds the past awkward or shameful 1. It is hard to escape the “progressivist” viewpoint in our culture 2. We live in an age of rapid change, a “liquid modernity” 3. Whereas change ought to be seen as value-neutral, our culture embraces change fully, only learning to rue the excesses and tragic consequences after it is all said and done 4. Meanwhile, culture views the past is full of people, ideas, etc., which were not as enlightened, with all kinds of horrific actions and ideas and shameful things, and so the attempt is made to fully distance ourselves in the here and now from whatever happened in the past 5. To suggest there were virtues in the past would give many reason to think we want to go back to live in the Stone Age! 6. This has influenced culture down to the level of the individual: the self-help industry would like to help you make a new “you” that can leave the “old you” safely behind...until the time comes when you need to make an “even newer” you! D. Thus, in a world where all people think they have is life right now, and life right now is better than at any point in the past...why are we surprised when people think everything is about them and about the present moment? E. Such indeed is the tyranny of the present 1. People feel dominated by the current moment, and think only in terms of the current moment: hence, the tyranny of the present 2. Many live today without any regard for what might happen tomorrow 3. Why do you think historians must continually warn everyone how those who do not learn from the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them? 4. How many fill their lives with busy work to try to press on and avoid the stressful and traumatic thoughts of what has happened in the past or what might be in the future? 5. How many live according to the outrage, despair, or triumph of the most recent news cycle, constantly shifting focus as soon as something new comes along? a. What of those who are still enduring the pain, difficulty, and cleanup work of the disasters of the past year once the film crews have all left? b. How many must plead to have their plight remembered and not forgotten? c. And yet how easily and quickly they are forgotten as the next big thing happens! 6. For many, this is the worst year ever...until the next one! 7. This even exists in the world of “Christendom”: the constant expectation that all that was written about the End of Days is gearing up to take place...right now! F. What should we as Christians do regarding this tyranny of the present? How should we navigate life in ways which are faithful to God in Christ? III. Living in the Present A. We do well to emphasize the importance for the Christian of living in the present B. James 4:13-16 1. James the Lord’s brother reminds us of the vanity of life: life as a vapor, here one minute, gone the next 2. We are not guaranteed another moment: our life may end at any time, or the Lord may return at any moment, and we will be called into account (Luke 12:15-21, Matthew 25:1-46) 3. Thus, as we plan for the future, we must do so “as the Lord wills,” as James says 4. But we must also live as if we can give a good account of our stewardship if we were to die today 5. Thus, planning for the future is good, but not so much as to not live life in the present 6. If we make sure to save for the future but have nothing to give to those in need today, if our soul is required of us, will the Lord be pleased with us (Matthew 25:31-46, 1 John 3:17)? 7. If we devote so much time to preparing for our future that we have no time to encourage or strengthen our fellow Christians today, or do not find ways of telling others about Jesus, and if our soul is required of us, will the Lord be pleased with us (Matthew 28:18-20, Hebrews 3:12-14)? C. 2 Corinthians 5:14-19 1. Paul exhorts Christians to understand themselves as new creations in Christ: the old has passed away; they are now reconciled to God in Christ 2. As we shall see, this does not demand complete forgetfulness and denial of the past (Ephesians 2:1-3, Titus 3:3); nevertheless, it does remind us of the importance of not allowing our past to weigh us down and define us in ways contrary to the Gospel 3. As we live in the present we must not allow our past from hindering us from glorifying God in our lives! 4. Many times the Evil One will tempt us into thinking that we are no good and haunt us with our past transgressions and failures; perhaps the Evil One would tempt us into thinking our glory days our behind us and to try to coast on the basis of the past; we must not allow them to define us, for God has redeemed us in Jesus, and empowers us to live for Christ today (Romans 8:31-39, Philippians 3:8-15)! D. Thus, in a very real way, Christians are to live in the here and now, and we must make sure to encourage present living in a godly way IV. Living for God’s Purposes in Christ A. Christians are to live in the present, but not without a view toward the past or the future; our lives must be rooted in God in Christ! B. The life of the Christian is defined by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth (1 John 2:3-6) 1. In His life Jesus served others, did not come to be served (Matthew 20:25-28) 2. In His death Jesus suffered the depredations of evil and did not respond in kind, thus triumphing over sin (1 Peter 2:18-25) 3. In His resurrection Jesus gained victory over death and extended the hope of the resurrection for all who trust in Him (1 Corinthians 15:20-58) 4. To live as disciples or followers of Jesus demands that we be shaped by these features (Romans 8:29) C. Our Lives Are Not All About Us 1. The logic of the secular consensus inescapably leads to self-absorption: there’s no real meaning, life is all about the here and now, so my life should involve getting as much as I can and enjoying it 2. And the logic of the life in Christ inescapably leads to a life of service: I am made in the image of God, God has made me and bought me with the price of the blood of His Son, I live in the hope of resurrection, so my life should involve becoming more like Christ to His glory (Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 8:29, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) 3. We can only devote ourselves to lives of service if we truly believe there is some greater Good beyond ourselves and some hope for the redemption of humanity 4. To this end we must resist the narcissistic impulses of our society and understand ourselves as humble servants of God in Christ D. We Needed Atonement We Could Not Provide 1. So much of the rush of the “here and now” is an attempt to escape the past 2. We’d like to think we can make up for what was done in the past; that’s not generally how it works 3. As Christians we must recognize our heritage in sin and the temptation we have to continue to sin (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8, 10) 4. We could not atone for our own sin; we cannot make up for what has happened (Romans 3:20) 5. We are ultimately no better or worse than our ancestors; just different 6. When we are liberated from having to judge our ancestors, we can learn from them and appreciate them for who they were and draw appropriate encouragement and warnings (1 Corinthians 10:1-12, Hebrews 11:1-40) 7. We may be better served to appreciate the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 1:9 and not fall prey to the siren call of the myth of human progress! E. Evil Is Defeated By Suffering, Not Human Schemes 1. According to the world, evil can be overcome through determined fighting, political or physical, by those waging righteous warfare 2. Such a view might find solace in the Old Testament, but the way of Jesus is the strongest possible rebuke to such mythology 3. Jesus overcame evil by suffering it without responding in kind, triumphing over it (1 Peter 2:18-25) 4. Ultimately, and horrifyingly, whatever has been accomplished through violent or legislative means can be easily undone through violent or legislative means 5. And yet the way of suffering cannot be undone; it cannot lose its integrity or witness 6. In this way the cross, not the Constitution or the gun, provides the ultimate way forward for the Christian in life (Matthew 10:34-39) F. There Is More to Life Than the Here and Now 1. Acts 17:30-31: the resurrection is the game changer 2. For those with no hope in the resurrection it is easy to believe only in the here and now; the pattern of life follows accordingly (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:32) 3. But for those who trust in the resurrection of Christ, life in the here and now is only a prelude, a testing ground for the full life to come (Matthew 25:1-46, 1 Peter 1:3-9) 4. And so 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: the service and sufferings of this life prepare us for an eternal weight of glory as long as we do not turn aside from looking toward what is unseen! 5. Even when the practicalities of life may look similar, the fundamental approach could hardly be more different between life according to the Epicurean and life in Christ! 6. In light of the resurrection there is more to living than this life; we must live our lives now according to the purposes of God so as to obtain eternal life! V. Conclusion A. While all we are guaranteed is life at this moment, there is far more to living than this life B. Ephesians 5:15-16 1. Christians are called upon to redeem the time, for the days are evil 2. Plenty live for today, wanting little to do with the past, believing the future to be completely bright, thinking only of themselves 3. The present seems shorter than ever! 4. And yet Christians must redeem the time, make it good for the purposes of God! C. We redeem the time by not allowing our past to hinder us in serving God in the present D. We redeem the time by not becoming enslaved to the tyranny of the present, seeing everything only in terms of the early 21st century, allowing our energies and passions to be directed and manipulated by the powers and principalities over this present darkness E. We redeem the time by not living for the future, presuming there will be time later for spiritual growth, evangelism, edification, and giving, for our lives are but a vapor, and if we are called upon to stand before God in Christ today, how could we justify our presumptions and lack of faithfulness if we waited to do tomorrow what God has called upon us to do today? F. We redeem the time by living recognizing our redemption, our fundamental equality with all other people made in God’s image, and willingness to serve in humility as Christ did (Matthew 20:25-28) G. We redeem the time by living according to the ethic of the cross, finding victory in suffering H. And we redeem the time by living in light of Jesus’ resurrection, confident in God’s promise of our own resurrection and life in eternity, and thus making the best use of what God has given us in the here and now to glorify Him for eternity! I. May we live now and redeem the time God has given us to His glory, and obtain the resurrection of life! J. Invitation Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die (1 Corinthians 15:32). So many today live for the here and now. They believe that this life is all there is, and so they live very much like many ancient people did. They, as the Epicureans, seek to enjoy life and avoid pain because this is all there is. Such is not what we have learned from God in Christ! 2: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away (James 4:14). In many ways Christians must remember that life is about the present. The future is not guaranteed; we must seek to serve Christ in all things today and be prepared whatever may come. We must not allow the past to weigh us down and hinder us from glorify God in Christ today. May we live fully for God’s purposes in Christ today! 3: For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Through Jesus’ death and resurrection Christians understand that there is far more to living than this life. The things that are seen are transitory, and we must not fall prey to their siren call. We are called to serve as Christ and suffer as He did if we would obtain eternity in the resurrection in Him. May we live for the Lord Jesus and His purposes! 4: Redeeming the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). Christians must redeem the time. The time is short; death and/or the Lord Jesus are coming soon. We will be called into account for how we have used the time God has given us. We redeem the time because we have confidence in the judgment and eternity to come. May we live as redeemed in Jesus, and serve Him to obtain the resurrection of life!