Looking Forward

Last Sunday, we talked about the Transfiguration, where Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to a mountain.  His appearance changed and Moses and Elijah appeared with him.  The disciples didn't really know what to think.  Peter then said, "Let me build a shelter for you guys!"  Essentially, he was saying, "I wish this moment would last forever."  I actually think this might have been Peter's expectation--that Moses and Elijah were there to stay and that was the time Jesus would take his rightful place as the Messiah.

But then Moses and Elijah disappeared and reality sunk in for the disciples.  It was rare, it was quick, and they couldn't stay there.  But the Transfiguration was God pulling open the curtain to allow them to see a glimpse of heaven.  In the message, I said it was meant to be an anchor they could hold onto when the tough times came.  Immediately before the transfiguration, Jesus had changed his message from "Repent! The Kingdom is near," to "I have to go to Jerusalem to suffer and die."

So, I said to look back but always move forward.  Use those times where God shows Himself very clearly as springboards for you faith.  In our Connection Group afterward, someone brought up the fact that what Jesus was showing them, wasn't the past, it was the future.  The disciples were getting of glimpse, not of the present Jesus, but the future, resurrected Jesus.  I think this is a great point.

It's probably even more valuable to us, when we can understand what God has in store for us in the future and continue to move toward that future.  Our faith is never faith in the circumstances working out the way we want them to, but our faith is always in the character of a faithful God.  Sometimes we might get to see it ahead of time, but often, we just have to trust that when we allow God to work the way God wants to work, He will work it out for our good in the end.  Following Him wherever He goes is always the right thing.