Evening Devotional - Living Between the Already and the Not Yet

As we journey through life as believers, we live in a paradox. We are citizens of the Kingdom of God, yet we await its fullness. Jesus declared in Luke 17:21 that the Kingdom of God is already in our midst. Through His life, death, and resurrection, the Kingdom has been inaugurated. The power of God’s Kingdom is now available to us through the Holy Spirit. We experience His rule and reign in our lives today—His peace, His healing, His grace.

However, we know that the Kingdom is not fully realized yet. In Revelation 21, we are given a vision of what is to come—a new heaven, a new earth, where God dwells with His people in perfect unity and where suffering, pain, and death are no more. This is the ultimate fulfillment of God's Kingdom, and we are still waiting for it.

This is the tension we live in—the "already" and the "not yet." We experience God’s power, His presence, His comfort, and His truth now, but we also long for the day when all things will be made new. As we wait for the return of Christ, we live in anticipation of that final, glorious reality.

Reflection:

In the space between the "already" and the "not yet," we are called to live faithfully, with our hearts set on the coming Kingdom. We are not called to retreat from the world but to engage it with the power and hope of the Kingdom that is already present in us. We live with the reality that God’s Kingdom is at work now—changing lives, healing hearts, transforming communities—but we also long for the day when Christ will return, and all things will be restored to their intended glory.

In your daily life, how can you reflect the reality of the Kingdom in your words and actions? Are you sharing the hope and power of the Kingdom with those around you? In what ways are you longing for the return of Christ, and how does that longing shape your life today?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to bring Your Kingdom near to us. We are grateful that we can experience the power of Your Kingdom now through the Holy Spirit. But Lord, we also long for the day when Christ will return and make all things new. Help us to live in this tension—faithfully working for Your Kingdom while eagerly awaiting its full realization. May our lives reflect Your reign and bring glory to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Closing Thought:

As we go to sleep tonight, remember that while we wait for the final fulfillment of God’s Kingdom, we are not without hope. The Kingdom is already here, and we are part of it. Let that truth stir in your heart as you rest in the peace and power of God's presence, knowing that He is with you now and will be with you forever.