Bee and Vern looked through the slits in the porch, staring at the still sound waters that surrounds Wrightsville Beach. If I could read their thoughts, I believe they would be asking me to take them over there where they could play in the waters and dig in the sand. Over there would surely make them happy.
How often do we believe that if we could be “there”, or when we get “there” we would be happy? But what we don’t realize is that “there” is only an allusion.
If you study the words of the Bible, you will notice a common theme of the present tense that flows through both the Old and New Testament. Exodus 14:13 states, “Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.”
And how about Psalm 118:24 “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Matthew 6:34 states, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough troubles of it’s own.”
Hebrews 3:13 simply states, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
All we have is here and now. And only in the present will we discover the gift of joy that our Savior wants us to draw upon.
So just like Bee and Vern, we can all be content in our present condition. And they do seem content as they watch the waters from a distance. For us, no matter where we are, we can find joy, if we can push out the thought of “there” and rejoice in the here.
