Already

“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” John 5:24

If you are struggling to please God, you can stop right now. Save your energy. God is not interested in your efforts, he is interested in your affections. He is not sitting in the heavens with a scorecard waiting for you to get your act together so that he can love you more. The truth is, God could not love you more than he does right now. Right now, while you’re struggling, before you get it all together, in the middle of your darkness or bad decision.    

Jesus didn’t say those who live perfect lives, who understand all his precepts, who never mess up, have eternal life. No, He said those who listen to his message and believe in God who sent him. If you listen and believe, you have already passed from death to life. Already. Not will. Not may. Not if. But already. 

Do believers in Christ still struggle? Yes. God’s beloved children are not exempt from hardship. We get hurt. We get lonely. We get sick. We sin. But we have hope. We have a God who walks with us through the pain and the darkness. We have a God who never leaves us and loves us beyond our capacity to comprehend. We will never be condemned, though we struggle. We have already passed from death into life.