Living in a Preview

Introduction

As a Bible-believing Christian, I want to begin by saying life can be a struggle. One of the obviously clear factors of living a life exampled by Christ is the life of suffering that God calls us to. This does not mean life is to be unenjoyable. Rather, it simply means that we are always searching for joy in the midst of hardship. I suppose this joy that we find is better than the joy that is given, because it teaches us the faithfulness of God and the level of His participation in the things of man. Yet, if you are like me, you may feel like you’re always living in a preview.

You’re living in a preview of what can be and what eventually will be, but you are fully aware of the reality of what is right now. I guess this is what Paul was feeling when he wrote 1 Corinthians 13:12 “12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.”

Maybe you can relate to what Paul is describing in this verse:

I’m working through school, but I see myself making six figures some day.

I’m struggling with a sickness right now, but I see myself being healed.

Have you ever had a cold and said, I can’t wait until this time next week…when this thing would have ran its course?

I’m borrowing a car right now, but I see myself driving what I want.

I’m struggling with a temptation right now, but I see myself free and delivered.

One of the most difficult places in life is in the preview, because living in the preview raises up all sorts of temptations that make the promise dangerous. Living in the preview has the potential of making me unfocused and anxious and impatient.

This is why God always calls us into relationship with Him before possession of the promise. He wants us to understand the value His presence over the value of the blessing. This is so because God understands anyone who covets the blessing over His presence will leave Him once they get the blessing they are coveting.

However, one of the most incredible things we find in Scripture is God’s willingness to enter into covenant with mankind. Scripture is filled with examples of how God entered these covenants and often proved His holiness and righteousness by how He existed in these relationships with mankind.

In Genesis, God entered into covenants with individuals such as Adam, Noah, and Abraham,

The Mosaic Covenant where God enters into a covenant with the nation of Israel

The Davidic Covenant where God enters into a covenant with David and his seed

The New Covenant where God fulfills the covenants of the past

In each one of these covenants there is the same basic protocol. A covenant is an agreement between two parties that specifies requirements for at least one part, and includes blessings and cursing for obedience or failure. In general, covenants were a way of sealing sacred kinship bonds between two parties by means of legal sanction and liturgical right (Lexham Bible Dictionary).

In the Ancient Near Eastern world, covenants were uniquely different from contracts. Lexham Bible Dictionary noted contracts tended to state “this is yours, that is mine.” However, covenants stated, “I am yours, and you are mine.” Contracts are about the serving the interest of oneself and gaining profits. Whereas covenants are about self-sacrifice, loyalty, and love.

Due to God’s desire to be in covenant with man, we now know the life of a man or woman is defined by how he or she responds to God’s invitation to be in covenant with Him. This truth is found throughout all Scripture, and it is a principle I found to be most powerful in the last few weeks.

One of the most dominant examples of this principle is found in the covenant God made with the nation of Israel, the Mosaic or Sinaic Covenant. Many people misrepresent this covenant as being the worse covenant of all. We often think of this covenant as being the enemy of God’s overall plan. Rather, we should see it as the shadow, the temporary solution until the more final or permanent solution arrives. Notice what Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 30:11-20,

Deuteronomy 30:11–20 (CSB)

“This command that I give you today is certainly not too difficult or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven so that you have to ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ And it is not across the sea so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it. See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity. For I am commanding you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and multiply, and the Lord your God may bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not listen and you are led astray to bow in worship to other gods and serve them, I tell you today that you will certainly perish and will not prolong your days in the land you are entering to possess across the Jordan. I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, love the Lord your God, obey him, and remain faithful to him. For he is your life, and he will prolong your days as you live in the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Israel had the opportunity of a lifetime. However, Israel did not carry out any of their covenant responsibilities. In fact, she abandoned the Lord (see Joshua 23-24, Judges 2:11-15). As a result, God brought upon Israel the curses of the covenant agreement (see Deuteronomy 28-30).

Write this down:

The quality of my life is a result of the decisions I make. But the decisions I make are a result of the thoughts I think. And the thoughts I think are a result of the understanding I possess. Therefore, if I want to change my life, I must change my decisions. If I want to change my decisions, I must change my thinking. And if I am to change my thinking I must increase my understanding.

**Expound on the impact of decisions on one’s life and how making godly decisions determines the quality of our life.**

The Gracious Plan of the Covenant- Keeping God

Here’s the grace: Even when we make bad choices, God is still good!

The interesting thing about the new covenant is that it is a covenant with Judah and Israel. After everything Israel did to offend God, He still did everything to hold on to them (see Hebrews 8-10).

Some of us need to take a moment to thank God He did not judge us off of the last decision we made.

The new covenant provided three things for them:

Understanding

Relationship

Forgiveness

Here’s the take away of Scripture:

All of God’s blessings are given as a gift of grace. But these gifts are received by faith. And that which is received by faith is kept by obedience (Hebrews 10:26-32).

How do I keep myself from sinning? Just remember! (see Hebrews 10:32-36)