Sometimes in Scripture the Lord paints a picture of what shall be. The world is not perfect.  Life is not perfect.  Things happen that we do not like; that we do not want.  So often, each day of life, we see the imperfections.

When that happens, time after time, when all we see is the bad and the troubles, we can forget what can be.  We can forget what shall be.  I think that’s why God always paints that picture, of what life will be like one day.  Listen to the picture painted in Micah 3: 3-4:

He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; 4but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.

No more spears and swords, no more war.  No more violence.  No more fear.  No more death.  That time is coming.  Now, that time is not now. But it is coming.

So, what do we do?  What do we do while we wait for what shall be?

First, we work to make the moment we live in now, as much as the world that is to come.  What does that mean?  Well, maybe the world has not yet beat its swords into plowshares, but maybe you and I can.  Maybe instead of responding today with a hard word, we can respond with peace and kindness.  In a world filled with anger and vengeance, maybe we can show love.  In a world we folks need to find their worth, maybe we can point them to Jesus.  Perhaps the world has not put away it’s sword yet, but maybe today you and I can.

Second, don’t give up on what on what shall be.  All is not right now, but all will be right one day.  Don’t give up on that.  Don’t lose hope.  Don’t forget, don’t feel lost.  God sees.  God knows.  God is with us, even now.

The world is not perfect. But God is not done.

Never lose hope in that.

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