How God’s Future Can Influence Your Present

Any disclosure of the future

was given to influence present action.[1]

How does some knowledge of the future help us live better today?

That is the question we keep asking as we identify divinely revealed glimpses of the parousia of Jesus Christ in the future. What is God telling us about how these glimpses of the future should influence our present actions?

In simple terms, we adopted the metaphor of “eschatological binoculars,” by which distant events should guide our next steps.

You will recall that the Greek word parousia is “the state of being present at a place, presence,”[2] specifically, the future physical presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The previous post reflected on the parousia of Jesus Christ in His own words.  This post will explore some of the occurrences of parousia in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonian Christians, and how they are intended “to influence present action” in your life.

Encouragement in serving

1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 is saturated with Paul’s yearning to see his Thessalonian brothers and sisters again. For instance, Paul writes:

• “… we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children” (2:7), and
• “… we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children…” (2:11)

In that context, we come to 2:19:

For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes [parousia]? Is it not you?

He has been used by God to bring these people to Christ and to equip and encourage them in their growth in Christ. As he contemplates the parousia, when he and the Thessalonian believers will be in the presence of the Lord, he anticipates — even experiences — some of the future glory and joy.

How is this relevant to your present actions?

People who are blessed by your loving service in the Spirit will be a future joy and reward for you. So, be encouraged to serve others now in the name of Jesus Christ.

Motivation in praying

Two references to the parousia are set in the language of prayer (3:11-13; 5:23-24).

The first is 3:13:

May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes [parousia] with all his holy ones.

The second is 5:23:

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming [parousia] of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The tenor of these two prayers is similar. These Christians in Thessalonica “… suffered from your own countrymen …” (2:14) and were tempted to deviate from faithful Christ-like living (5:14).

Although most modern Christians in the West do not experience much persecution or suffering, this is an exception to what fellow brothers and sisters in Christ experience and have experienced in other regions and times. For us in the West, with our addiction to materialism and obsession with safety, it can be easy to drift from being faithful and godly.  

Whatever the situation, Paul desires that his brothers and sisters will be blameless and holy at the future parousia of the Lord Jesus. This is a powerful motivation to pray for Christians to be sustained and strengthened to live lives in the present that do not lead to shame and disgrace.

Who should you pray for of those connected with you?  How should you pray for them?

Comfort in sorrow

If we live long enough, we experience the death of people we know and love. What happens at and after death? We will address these and other questions in future posts.

The Thessalonians were subject to some false ideas about death, just as we are today. Paul corrects some of these erroneous ideas about the death of Christians before the parousia.

Bible scholar, Leon Morris, provides us with the probable context for this section (4:13-5:11):

Some of the Thessalonians had evidently understood Paul to say that all who believed would see the parousia. Some believers had died. Did this mean that they would be at a disadvantage when the Lord came? Had they forfeited their share in the wonderful happenings of the End? Some may even have felt that these deaths discredited the whole idea of the parousia.[3]

Paul writes into this misunderstanding with a corrective and encouragement (4:15):

According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming [parousia] of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

The parousia of Jesus Christ will trigger the physical resurrection of Christians who have died, and that should be a great comfort and encouragement when we experience the death of a loved one who is “in Christ.”

Action item

We are focusing on one aspect of eschatology: the future physical return and presence of the Lord Jesus (the parousia). Instead of parsing various views about when and how these future events might happen, we are learning to discern how these divinely revealed glimpses of the future are calling us to act in the present.

As you read, study, and meditate on the Biblical text, and come across a reference to the future (i.e., eschatology), take in the context and identify what is being said about how this should influence your ‘here and now.’

I want to hear what you find. You can let me know using this link. 

FORWARD TO the next post in this series

BACK TO 5 Pieces of Advice from Jesus Christ

Notes:

[1] A. Berkeley Mickelsen, et al., Better Bible Study (Glendale, CA: Regal, 1977), 84. Emphasis added.

[2] Walter Bauer et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 780f.

[2] Leon Morris, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, rev’d ed. (Leicester, UK/Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity/Eerdmans, 1956, 1984), 89.

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