Gunnison, CO, is a city that lives in the folklore of my mind. It has the distinction of being one of the coldest places in the lower 48. This time of year is hazardous.
Gunnison is nestled in the Elk and Sawatch mountain ranges of the Rocky Mountains. Sitting at an elevation of 7,710ft, the valley it lies in is a thermal basin, meaning all of the cold air from the surrounding mountains settles in this tiny valley. Because of this position, the late winter/early spring has a wide swing of temperatures. The temperature can fluctuate from freezing zero – to a sweat-producing 60 degrees in less than 24 hours. Perhaps you have felt that instability before; you start your day in a winter jacket only to be in shorts by the evening and then quickly reverse the process to keep the chill off.
These temperature swings can have dire consequences—stories of the Old West where the extreme weather caught travelers unaware as they were ill-prepared for drastic adjustments. Settlers set out mid-day when the sun was warm and bright and then froze to death as they traveled through the valley.
Although we might not have drastic temperature swings, you might have discovered the secret to this fluctuation: layering. For our modern sensibilities, it might seem too involved to carry extra clothing; however, it is the best option to battle the highs and lows of any climate. You have to be willing to live in both extremes and adjust to whatever happens in between.
In our Sunday morning class, we are addressing the concept of living in the ‘Now and the Not Yet.’ This theological concept is the idea that we currently participate in God’s Kingdom and are also anticipating the day when it is fully realized. We make a conscious effort to be in the Almost and the Already. The New Testament is rife with examples of transformation and waiting for all creation to be transformed.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Revelation 21:5- “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 21:5- “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Christians live as those who have been made new in a new kingdom, even though the new kingdom is coming. It is akin to living in two climates at once. Just as the residents of Gunnison, CO, must adapt to both extreme cold and sudden warmth, we, as believers, must adapt to the current world and the future kingdom. We are all children of God, but the full inheritance of the kingdom is yet to come.
How do we live in an environment like this? We wear layers. We put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) to protect us from the ‘extreme weather’ of life’s challenges. We clothe ourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:27) to keep us warm in the ‘cold’ moments of life. We have the Holy Spirit live in us (John 14:17) to guide us through the ‘temperature swings’ of life. But we also anticipate the day when we no longer need these things. The fluctuation around us does not fool us. We anticipate the inconsistencies of the world we live in and adjust accordingly. We maintain a steadfast approach to our direction in the world. Some moments may seem colder than others, and some days, we may enjoy the sun’s warmth.
Regardless, we know we can enjoy a time when there is no more sorrow or tears, where God is the light, and there is no longer any night. Although we want to live in paradise, right now, we live in between.