There’s an intriguing question I’m pretty sure we’ve all asked ourselves in one way or another more times than we can count. It usually pops up spontaneously in the aftermath of some unexpected turn of events that calls for some kind of action, but we’re not quite sure what to do or which way to turn. So we just look at the situation and mutter something like, “So now what?” It’s technically a question, but it often qualifies more as an expression of exasperation than a quest for knowledge. But as a question, it falls in the rhetorical category. Answers are
definitely needed, but an immediate solution isn’t generally expected. Nonetheless, “Now what?” is a fascinating little question and worth exploring objectively, especially because it’s going to emerge again at some point for all of us.
Personal Applications Coming ~
In addition to the unpredictable vicissitudes of life that leave us saying, “Now what?” you might have noticed that we’re approaching a Presidential election preceded by campaign conditions and situations unprecedented in our history. There is no doubt that regardless of which candidate wins, millions here and around the world will be saying, or thinking, or possibly even screaming “Now what?!” But for multitudes of others, the question won’t wait ‘til November, and it won’t have anything to do with politics, parties, policies, or national issues. For them the situation that prompts it and the nature of the response will be very personal.
A “What now?” reaction can be related to events that indeed are nationally significant, like a Presidential election, but they can also be as deeply personal as a terminal prognosis. It can be equally appropriate whether the news is good or bad and whether the issues involved are major or minor. “What now?” can follow news that a distant relative you hardly knew died and 
left you a fortune, or discovering that your hotel room is infested with bed bugs. Life is full of events that elicit a “Now what?” response, but what if we decide not to wait for the unexpected thing to happen? What if we toss the usual reactionary context and approach it on purpose instead? We might discover that the question shouldn’t always be so rhetorical after all. We might also discover that it can open doors to incredible, life-changing opportunities with eternal implication. One thing’s for sure, God loves confronting us with that question, and no one ever produced more reasons for asking it than Jesus of Nazareth.
More than Words ~
esus spoke like no Rabbi of Israel had ever spoken, but with Him, the impact of His presence wasn’t relegated to the messages He delivered.
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- He demonstrated love and compassion people had never seen in religious leaders before.
- He announced the arrival of a Kingdom not characterized by divisive social classes, a Kingdom requiring no religious credentials for entry, and one not governed by the world’s standards or political forces.
- Jesus invited everyone into His Kingdom whether rich or poor, male or female, child or adult, upper crust or outcast.
- Faith in Him was the only requirement for entry into a Kingdom where there was forgiveness of sins and freedom from condemnation.
- In His Kingdom there was the “shalom” they longed for and prayed for but could never seem to find.
- People walked countless miles for the chance of hearing Him and confirming whether what they had heard was real.
But what happened when those thousands who sought Him finally found themselves in His presence?
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- What do you do when the Word of God is delivered with the kind of divine authority you never heard?
- What do you do when you’ve seen lepers cleansed, lame people walk, deaf people hear, and blind people see?
- When you’ve witnessed impossible things happen in response to a word from His lips or the touch of His hand, what on earth do you do?
- What do you do when you realize that you’re in the presence of Almighty God in living, human flesh?
Maybe “Now what?” isn’t rhetorical at all. Maybe God’s always waiting for an answer in moments like that.
Seeking Him for Different Reasons ~
But those driven by the hope that finding Jesus meant finding healing weren’t the only ones seeking Him. Not everyone seeking this radical Rabbi from Nazareth was looking for forgiveness and acceptance. Israel’s dusty roads were also being traversed by religious and political elites who wanted to evaluate how much of a threat this popular Teacher might turn out to be. Were the things they had heard just rumors and idle tales, stories made up to
support some new kind of cult? Were the miracles He supposedly performed just sleight-of-hand tricks or perhaps done through demonic magic? And if that was the case, how could they most effectively discredit both the man and his message? Imagine their response when they found Him.
Imagine them discovering that their hopes of exposing Him as a fraud were suddenly reversed and discovering that the real fraud wasn’t Him at all. It was them. What might it have felt like to see their religious and political system and the power and authority associated with it put in serious jeopardy. Imagine their reaction to seeing concepts they’d been basing their life on being exposed as baseless and empty. Imagine being one of His detractors and standing in the presence of One who could look through every carefully constructed facade, past every deceptive external covering, and look into your very soul. Perhaps a response like, “Now what?” might seem in order.
A Question God Loves ~
As we mentioned above, “Now what?” is a question God loves. It’s a question to ask ourselves when reality hits us in the face, shakes up our world, pulls the rug out from under us, or maybe stabs us in the heart. “Now what?” is a provocative little question. Though we mostly engage it with our focus on the future and the emphasis on the “what” component, it’s a present tense question. After all, the first word is “now.” It’s not only a present tense question, it’s one that calls for present tense answers. It’s not focused on what we’re likely to do someday. It’s focused on what we need to do “now” because what unfolds in our future may depend on how we react and what decisions we make now.
No doubt all of us have lots to do these days on a personal level, and our lives are definitely going to be affected by the outcome of the upcoming Presidential election. But there’s something more pressing that will have more impact on our lives than either political 
outcome. The truth is that Jesus is real – and we don’t have to travel miles to find Him. He has found His way here and stands before you and me. The things we’ve heard about what He can do and the message of life and hope He offers are all true. But the other implications are true as well. He still sees through all the phony facades we project about ourselves. He still sees past the layers of protective and deceitful images we hide behind to prevent others from knowing how confused, conflicted, ashamed, and hopeless we really are inside.
The offer still stands, and there’s no way to know when some unexpected, tragic thing might end the opportunity to access what He’s offering. As He looks through the eyes behind which the real version of us lives, and peers into our soul, the question is still, “Now what?” …
We can find no better way to conclude than that offered by the Apostle Paul:
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says
“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 5:20–6:2 NKJV)
“TWEETABLES” ~ Click to tweet and share from the pull quotes below. Each one links directly back to this article through Twitter . . .
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- Faith in Jesus was the only requirement for entry into a Kingdom where there was forgiveness of sins and freedom from condemnation. In His Kingdom there was the “shalom” they longed for and prayed for but could never seem to find. @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet)
- Imagine being one of His detractors, standing in the presence of One who could look through every carefully constructed facade, past every deceptive external covering and look into your very soul. Perhaps a response like, “Now what?” might seem in order. @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet)
- “Now” what? It’s a present tense question that calls for present tense answers – not focused on what we’re likely to do “someday”, but on what we need to do “now”. What unfolds in our future may depend on how we react and what decisions we make now. @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet)
- Jesus still sees through all the phony facades we project about ourselves. He still sees past the layers of protective and deceitful images we hide behind to prevent others from knowing how confused, conflicted, ashamed and hopeless we really are inside. @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet)
- There’s no way to know when some unexpected and tragic thing might end the opportunity to access what Jesus offers. As He looks through the eyes behind which the real version of us lives and peers into our soul, the question is, “Now what?” @GallaghersPen (Click here to Tweet)
Gallagher's Pen ~ 
What now, indeed, Ron. I know I’ve never thought about this simple phrase in the eloquent way you’ve described it here, and as always, you are right. The only thing we should be concerned about is where we stand with Jesus. I do pray every day that God’s will be done in our nation, that we would repent of our sins and turn to Him, knowing He is the only One who can save us from our shallow selves. I will put my faith and trust in the Lord no matter how many ‘what nows’ I face in the future. Blessings always to Diane and you!
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Thank you again, dear friend. I’m late getting back to you because Diane and I made a trip to Charlotte, NC to be with two of our grandsons who were baptized this morning. One has been the object of many, many prayers and lots of tears for many years, but God seems to have finally broken through all the walls and layers of lies that have kept him separated from Him for a long time. What a grand and glorious thing it was for us to gather with his mom, his aunt, and his brother and share this deeply moving experience.
Then, I get to open my computer and find a sweet and encouraging note from a sister in Christ that we’ve grown to love and appreciate for lots of reasons. We’re hoping that Danny is continuing to do well and that you guys are making the loving adjustments that those medical interventions so often demand. Someone said recently–don’t recall who–that you can’t speak more than one thing at a time, but our actions can send multiple messages at once and that the closest thing we have to that phenomenon is poetry. I thought of you, of course, when I heard that, because you so often paint pictures and write music with your words that unveil more than the words by themselves.
In any case, you have added another blessing to an already blessed day and we celebrate the many ways God shows up in our lives to remind us of that joy is nourishment to our heart that makes us stronger and richer and that helps to demonstrate what our incredible, living, loving Father is like. So, thanks for making yourself available to the Lord to bless people you’ve never even met face to face.
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