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| Right Now! By Joseph Prescia When the TV series "Happy Days" came out, there was an insinuation that those days back in the 50's were better to be remembered than those of today. The Scriptures declare that a great day in your life is right now. Possibilities for God to do great and wonderful things are in the present. Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (KJV) We don't need to dream about days gone by because we can do something memorable right now. We can't do something for God last year. We can't do something for a loved one in the future. We can act in the present and bless God and His people right now. In the New Testament there's a word (nun-Greek) meaning "at this time, the present, now (Strong's Lexicon)." Romans 3:21,26 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (KJV) Right now we are righteous and we can do righteous works right now, in the present. Romans 5:9-11 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (KJV) His blood "now" justifies us. We have received the atonement right now, at this time, the present. Atonement, or at-one-ment with God is available right now. O. S. Marden writes in his book, "The Miracle of Right Thought": "When we sense our at-one-ment with Him, when we become fully conscious of this divine reunion, all our troubles flee, all of our diseases and all our sins are healed. When we are in such close contact with Deity that we actually feel God (good) all sense of weakness, limitation, fatigue, timidity, doubt, will vanish, and we shall have that perfect fearlessness which comes from the consciousness of our at-one-ment with truth. The nearer man approaches to the recognition of this union, he expresses in his being the principles of life, of truth, of beauty, everything that builds, that is constructive, creative, and the farther he is from all that is destructive -the deadly, this discordant. The moment we become thoroughly conscious that we are connected with this Divine current running heavenward, the great underlying Principle of the universe, that we are a part of the great Truth, we take on new power, our courage and confidence multiply our ability. Just in proportion as we have perfect connection, are at-one-ment with the Divine, shall we receive the life current, the health current which can heal all our diseases. This is the secret of all healing, of all health, prosperity, and happiness, - the conscious union with the Divine. There is no harmony, no health, no genuine happiness that is lasting and worth while outside of this at-one-ment. If we could only constantly live in the consciousness of it, we could always maintain physical and mental harmony. This is the secret of all human blessedness. What a comforting and sustaining thought it is that an Infinite power presides over us which is kinder to us than we are to ourselves, kinder than we can be to those we love best; a force which is always ready to heal our hurts and to restore us, no matter how we have sinned in violating nature's law! When one feels that his hand is gripped by the Omnipotent hand he is "too near to God for doubt or fear" and he knows that no harm can come to him from any finite source. To feel that we are held always, everywhere, by this Divine hand and protected by Omnipotent Wisdom steadies the life wonderfully and gives a poise and confidence that nothing else can. The realization of all this will help us to live the life worth while, and will show us the barrenness, the hollowness, the emptiness of the selfish, greedy struggle in which most of us are engaged. The consciousness that we actually do live, move, and have our being in Divinity will elevate our standards and multiply our powers marvelously. A piece of well-magnetized steel will lift another, unmagnetized, eight times its own weight. A man in touch with the Divine Principle, magnetized by the consciousness of his oneness with the great creative force of the universe, in touch with Omnipotence has many times the power of the man who depends upon his own puny strength. "Let the mind be in you which was also in Christ," that is, the mind that gives health, peace, and happiness; the thought that gives harmony, justice, truth, and beauty. This is impossible unless we live, move and have our very being in Him, unless we abide under the shadow of the Almighty. The very idea of persistently holding the thought that one is divinely upheld, the thought that no harm can possibly come to him while he is thus ensconced in the Divine Presence destroys all fear and worry; restores confidence, and multiplies power." If God has so elevated us, can we be in condemnation at the same time? Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus... (KJV) There is no judgment against us right now. There is therefore now no condemnation to those that are in Christ. This "in Christ Jesus" is talking about sonship, something you inherited with the new birth. It is not talking about fellowship, what you do. It's talking about what God has already done for you in Christ; where there is no condemnation towards you. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (KJV) Right now, the life that I now live in this flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. That's the kind of life I live, right now! Ephesians 3:4-6 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (KJV) The "spiritual chosen club of God" has been extended to us Gentiles right now. We don't need to pay any dues or accomplish any special feats to get in. We're in right now! And right now we are fellow heirs and are of the same body and partakers of His promise in Christ. If God has so set us in a great position through Christ RIGHT NOW, why would we wait to manifest that greatness in the future? Why would we have regrets about the past? Could it be that God wants us to walk right now, in the present with power? Ephesians 5:6-8 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (KJV) If you have light on the inside why would you want to walk in darkness right now? God says to walk as children of light right now. Today is a great day in your life! Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (KJV) Where is Christ right now? In the presence of God working for us today. He is not in the Temple made with hands. He's not in the sanctuary of a present-day church building. He's in heaven, in the presence of God right now working on our behalf. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (KJV) This is why we want to keep hearing the Word of God so often, day after day, week after week. We are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our lord and savior Jesus Christ so that we can give him glory both right now and forever. 1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. (KJV) We don't wait until we have a certain level of scriptural knowledge and then follow him. We abide in him right now. Thus we are not ashamed of his face when he comes back. 1 John 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (KJV) When we confess Jesus as lord and believe God raised him from the dead we are sons of God right now. Do you think sonship comes with some special abilities, privileges and power? From O. S. Marden's book, "The Miracle of Right Thought:" "Why should we not have the divine power if we are of divine origin? Why think it so strange for us to partake of the attributes of our Maker? Do you expect your child to be an inferior being to yourself, not to partake of any of your power or your higher attributes? Why should God's offspring think it strange that what is in God is in him? The trouble with us is that we do not understand the principle of availing ourselves of the Divine Power, and until we do we shall always work at a disadvantage, doing little things with great effort when we might do grand things easily." Jude 24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (KJV) We can be a part of that glory and majesty, dominion and power of God, as we simply take God at His Word. One of the greatest keys to receiving abundance from God occurs with the principle of believing. Believing is a present day reality. Hope looks to the future. Worry looks to the future, where regrets and condemnation look backward. However, believing God is right now! Since God and His Word are present realities, we allow God to do great and wonderful things for us right now. We believe Him at His Word right now, no matter where we are or what we are doing, we can be locked into God's present goodness. Happy days, blessed days are available right now. © Copyright 2004 bytheword.com Return to main page |