A little while (John 16:16-24) 140707
Someone said, "Age is relative." That means, whether a person is old or young, it is in comparison with another person. But the reality is, age is the amount of time a person has lived. And as a Mathematics graduate, this is so because there is a beginning at the birth of a person, and hence we can start measuring the age of a person by the amount of time he lives. I know this sounds so theoretical and makes the topic of age so dry and cold. But this is a matter of fact so that we do not take our age so seriously (especially for the ladies).
It is hard to start to write devotion again after such a long break. But maybe to God, this is only a little while. God is using a little while to give me time to rest and remodeled me into someone a little bit more Christ-like. During this semester break, I experience a sense of burnout, and it forces me to rethink and renew my position in Christ and in the Kingdom of God. I really thank God that I can take a little while to reflect my life and ministry, and be refreshed.
Apostle John used the phrase "a little while" about seven times in this short passage. I am amazed by the intensity of this "a little while". In theology, I learn that God cannot be perceived chronologically. God is out of our understanding of time, He is beyond and above time, but yet He works with us through our time in the course of history.
Jesus revealed to His disciples that He will be going away for a little while (v17), and will be back in a little while time (v16, 19). But we know, that this little while has become two thousand years and we are still waiting for this little while to be completed. In this little while, Jesus gave us a picture of a bed of roses in the future, which includes the thorns. There will be weeping and lamentation and sorrows, but there will be joy and rejoicing (v20). Jesus used a child birth to describe this little while (v21). I think those who are parents and parents-to-be (like me) will fully understand what Jesus meant. The nine months of pregnancy is a tough journey for couple, especially the mother. But there will be joy.
I am not trying to eliminate or belittle our suffering here and now. I understand and empathize with those who are going through difficult season of their life. It maybe unreasonable boss or supervisor, it maybe adjustment in their new roles in their new life stage (becoming parents), or it maybe a sense of "lostness" about the future and even a relationship. The sense of not being able to control or even seeing hope or solution in the future can be very traumatic. But the Word of God assures us that this is only a little while and there is hope in the future! We, as the children of God, just have to cling on to this hope and wait for a little while more. We will receive what we ask of God and His promises to us, and our joy will be made full (v24).
