These two simple three-letter words placed side by side can change the world.
These two simple three-letter words catch my attention every time I read them in scripture.
But now…
They indicate a drastic change.
Something that once was will never be again.
We’ve sung these two words in the song Amazing Grace to tell the story of God’s working in our live…
I once was lost, but now I’m found.
Was blind, but now I see.
I read those two words yesterday morning as I was reading in my She Reads Truth Advent study. They caught my attention and gave me pause. I couldn’t move past those two precious words and I had to look up more instances of those two words and the hope that they give.
Let’s look at four of these passage together and consider how these two words impact us today.
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands–remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-13
At one time we were separated from Christ.
We were alienated.
We were strangers to the promises of God.
We had no hope We were without God in the world.
But now…
We have been brought near by the blood of Christ!
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Romans 6:22
Once we were slaves to sin.
Our end was certain death.
But now…
We, as followers of Christ, have a new status and a new destiny.
We are willing servants of God and our end is life, everlasting!
For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
Romans 7:5-6
In the past we lived in the flesh, being led by our sinful passions.
We bore fruit for death.
But now…
We are released from the law!
We are free!
We already died to that which held us captive and we serve in the new way.
We are led by the Spirit.
We bear the fruit of life!
Those two simple three-letter words, “but now”, offer blessed hope.
They are the beginning of our new story.
We were sinners who turned away and were called unrighteousness, but now we are justified by His grace.
We were once enemies of God, but now we are His beloved children.
We were once dominated by sin, but now we are free.
We were filled with anxiety, but now we are filled with peace.
We were once without hope, but now we have a promised hope.
I was once a lonely girl, looking for acceptance and love through doing all the right things. I doubted the love that I received and lived with constant anxiety and worry. I was depressed and sad. I lacked confidence and hope. I did and said what I thought would please others, but I was dying inside.
I was lost in sin until I found my savior.
But now…
Those two words have impacted my life and brought about change. They have given me love, peace, hope and joy.
And they can do the same for you!
Barbie says
AMEN my friend. So powerful!