Already, Not Yet

Sometimes the evil, agony, and suffering in our world is just overwhelming. I recently finished a paper on counseling survivors of sex trafficking. It is the worst of the worst, and those who have any experience with this know that is understatement. When we see our evil for what it is, it shocks and horrifies us and shows us what we’re made of.

I wrote this poem a few years ago but wanted to wait until Easter to share it. It seemed like the perfect time to remember that because of the living Christ, there is coming a day without suffering. In the words of Revelation 21:4, “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.”

Not only that, but the life we experience now is just a taste of what is coming. Our joy and peace. Our sense of community and belonging. Our new hearts and new desires. Our worship. Our relationship with God. What we see in part we will one day see and experience fully.

Theologians call this the “already, not yet” time. We “already” have access to every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3), but the fullness of those blessings have “not yet” been revealed. We are “already” being sanctified, but that process is “not yet” complete. Victory belongs to Jesus; one day that victory will be fully realized.

This poem personifies alphabetically just a few realities of a world plagued by injustice, whether we’re suffering because of our mistakes or another person’s sin. Yet the message of hope is that one day these evils will be only memories. Grief, pain, and human misery are all temporary in light of God’s promise to return and restore the innocence, beauty, goodness, and peace that was lost in the Garden.

In the meantime, through the power of God, we can look these things in the eye and say, “know your days are numbered.”

Grief, Your Days Are Numbered

Apostasy, you shall be banned.

Tears, you’ll be no more,

For at the Father’s holier hand

Are pleasures forevermore.

Bitterness, Despair, and Dying

Shall ever be but dreams.

Woe and Sorrow, Curse, and Crying—

Drowned in living streams.

Cowardice, lay down your sword.

Blame, your ugly chains,

For married soon shall be the Lord,

The bride in His bloodstains.

Deceit, you’ve reigned a bit.

Betrayal, you’ve had your day

Along with Guilt, the hypocrite—

Trembling in dismay.

Earth’s redeemed shall be absolved;

Old will pass away.

Time and Age shall be dissolved

And all that wrought decay.

Fear, you shall not good prevent

Nor our labors stain.

You shall flee, Discouragement,

When He returns to reign.

Grief, your days are numbered.

Pain, you must surrender soon,

For those now encumbered

Will then sing a lovelier tune.

Hatred, Discord, horrid Strife,

Acknowledge victory

To the rightful heirs of endless life—

Ordeal of history.

Ignorance, you will be slain;

Each heart will fain confess.

Self-interest, you cannot remain

Amid His faithfulness.

Jealousy, you cannot hide;

To One belongs the fame

You dare to covet with foolish Pride

When rocks declare His Name!

Know, O worldly Reason,

That there is a better gem:

True Wisdom that will label Treason

You it will condemn.

Lust, you’ll also be dismissed,

For empty hearts you seek

Are enthralled and can’t resist

The Savior of the weak.

Melancholy, you’ll be replaced

Along with the shame you bring.

Gratitude here is but a foretaste

Of what glorified tongues will sing.

Night, you’ll be unneeded

For in that sunless land of light,

God’s sanctity is unimpeded—

His glory, our delight.

Opulence, you shall fulfill

God’s first good intent

When Sin you shed and serve at will

What Earth cannot invent.

Poverty and tempting Bliss—

Power that corrupts—

You both shall die with Prejudice

When Promise interrupts.

Quarreling and vain Conceit,

O deft Manipulation,

You shall be forced to choose retreat—

And cease your crime, Temptation!

Revenge, though working, will not win.

Oppression, pass away.

Bondage seeking ease in Sin

Shall be exposed one day.

Skepticism, take your place

Within hell’s fiery void.

Mockery—man’s cruel disgrace—

You, too, shall be destroyed.

Thirst and Hunger, you shall be

Soon conquered by the Lord,

Who shall for blessed eternity

Be the saints’ reward.

Unfairness and Uncertainty

You’ll end when time has passed.

Impatience and Impurity,

Know you will not last.

Violence, fueled by brutal Rage,

You shall perish, too,

But not before the cosmic stage

Sees Eden made anew.

Willed Revolt and shameless Guile,

You shall no more plague Peace

Nor hearts of men break and defile

In light of your decease.

eXamine, man, the path you choose!

Your time with these is brief.

Mean Untruth will quickly lose

On the final day of Grief.

Your heavenly home is waiting—

O taste this Kingdom sweet!

It’s now begun its liberating

And soon shall be complete.