Already Not Yet
Imagine you are hiking Mt. Grace, a actual mountain in Massachusetts, for the first time. While making your way up the trail, a passerby asks, “Have you hiked Mt. Grace?” How would you answer? Since you have not yet reached the summit, the correct answer would be, “Not yet.” At the same time, you have already completed part of the climb. In that sense, you could also say, “I’ve already done it.” Putting those responses together, you could answer with four simple words: “Already, but not yet.”
This phrase also provides a helpful description of the Kingdom of Heaven. During His earthly ministry, Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom. When John the Baptist questioned whether Jesus was truly the Messiah, Jesus pointed to His works as evidence: “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” (Matthew 11:5). Through Christ’s coming, the Kingdom had already broken into the world. Yet the Kingdom in its fullness has not arrived. We still await the day when God “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). Thus, when asked, “Has the Kingdom of Heaven arrived?” we can rightly answer: “Already, but not yet.”
Events from David’s life foreshadow this “already, but not yet” reality. The prophet Samuel poured oil on David’s head and anointed him king. From that day forward, “the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David” (1 Samuel 16:13). Yet immediately afterward, Scripture continues to describe Saul as the reigning king. David even entered Saul’s service, playing the harp to soothe him. Later, David was sent by his father to deliver supplies to his brothers, who were serving in Saul’s army. So was David king? In one sense, yes. He had been chosen and anointed by God. But in another sense, no. He had not yet ascended the throne.
While visiting his brothers, David learned of Goliath, the giant Philistine who openly defied the armies of the living God. Day after day, Goliath challenged Israel to send a champion to fight him. His taunts went unanswered until David arrived. Though young and inexperienced by worldly standards, David stepped forward in faith. He declared, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty” (1 Samuel 17:45). Against all expectations, David defeated the giant and led Israel to victory. He acted in a remarkably kingly manner. Surely now he was king, right? Not yet. Though anointed and victorious, David still had not received the throne.
As we consider David’s status—anointed, yet not fully enthroned—we find a striking parallel to Jesus and His Kingdom. Jesus has been anointed as King and already reigns. His authority is real, and His Kingdom has already begun. Yet the fullness of His reign awaits His return. Like David after the defeat of Goliath, Jesus is already, but not yet King.
This truth brings us back to our hike up Mt. Grace. We are partway up the mountain. The journey has begun, but it is not complete. Will we continue forward or turn back? Following Jesus is much the same. The Kingdom has already come, but its fulfillment is still ahead. As we await that day, the question remains: Will we keep climbing?
