The Power of Now

from Acres of Diamonds by Jentezen Franklin

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

John 2:7-11

When we focus too much on what has happened or the fear of what might or might not happen, we miss the power of now.

Jesus knew this. At the beginning of His earthly ministry, Jesus, His mother, and His disciples have all been invited to a wedding. Suddenly, the wine runs out. When Jesus’ mother hears about this social taboo, she asks Him for help.

“What have I to do with this?” Jesus responds. “It’s not my time yet.”

But Mary is a discerning woman. She knows she has to push her son out into the ministry. Without a word in reply to Jesus, Mary turns to the servants, points to Jesus, and says, “Do whatever He tells you.”

You know the rest of the story—Jesus instructs the servants to fill six huge jugs with water. At the sight of its creator, the water blushes and becomes wine. When the master of the feast tastes it, he praises the bridegroom for keeping the good wine “until now”—when the guests have had a lot to drink and most hosts would serve the inferior wine.

I want you to pay close attention to that statement: You have kept the good wine until now.

You know the saying “Save the best for last.” If we are not careful, we can live our entire lives that way—thinking that the blessing, the miracle, the answer to prayer is out there, coming one day. Some day. Way out there.

But God does not just save the best for last. Sure, He can do that if He wants to; He’s God. He can do anything. But He also saves the best for now. We need to be careful that we are not living ten years out there, in the “one day” and “someday.” We can have victory now. We can have revival now. Marriages can be restored, families can be reunited, addictions can be broken, and breakthroughs can all happen now.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

The enemy wants to distract us from the power of believing that right now is where the victory begins. The great days are not behind the Church—the great days are not behind you. God is not the God of the past. He is not sitting around, waiting to show His power and greatness.

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

You have kept the good wine until now. God’s best is not in the past, and it’s not in the future. It’s now.