The Earnest (deposit) of Our Expectation
Joe Terrell

The life and experience of a believer on earth are very different from what they shall be when he is gathered to the Lord. John wrote that we do not even KNOW what we shall be in that time; how much less, then should we expect to experience it now.

The present condition of the child of God can best be described by the word “part”: we have part – some – of what we shall have in time to come. “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror… Now I know in part”, (1 Corinthians 13:12) writes the apostle. In several places, Paul calls the Holy Spirit a deposit or earnest payment guaranteeing what is to come, implying that we do not yet possess all. He speaks in another place of a righteousness for which we hope, yet do not possess. (Galatians 5.5, Romans 8.24, 25)

But all these parts shall someday give way to perfection – wholeness. The apostles did not leave us hopeless. We see but a poor reflection now, but then, “face to face”; now we know in part, but later we shall know fully, even to the degree that Christ knows us. (1 Corinthians 13.12) We now have the Spirit as a deposit, but His presence in us is a guarantee of the full possession of all those spiritual blessings which are in Christ Jesus in time to come. Presently we have Christ’s imputed righteousness giving us the right to all God’s blessings; and in time to come, we shall be made like Christ and thus be worthy and suitable recipients of all those blessings. (1 John 3.2; Colossians 1.12) In other words, now is the time of hope. And in accordance with that we say, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, …" (Proverbs 13:12) But, that heartsick longing we feel can lead us to a joy even at this present time, for we know also, as the Proverb goes on to say, "…but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." Someday (soon) our longing shall be fulfilled.

So now we walk with a sort of clumsy gait: hope giving us a strong stride, but the deferral of it causing a limp. I suppose we walk like Jacob of old after he wrestled with the Lord. But I thank God that though I walk with clumsy gait, I walk the path of Him who IS the way to the Father, even Jesus Christ,