How can the future Ge’ulah change our lives today?

Last week, we asked about the supernatural strength we Jews possess to keep moving, keep living, keep building despite lifetimes and generations filled with pain.

We turned, of course, to yediyah – specifically, yediyah of the future. Awareness of the perfect plan Hashem is orchestrating as He leads us to the final Ge’ulah. Knowing that everything we experience, even the most horrific kinds of suffering, plays a role in that process gives us the strength to hold our heads high and keep moving forward.

But there’s more to it. Hashem doesn’t just move the Ge’ulah closer through our experiences. He also offers us the opportunity to play an active role.

For more context, let’s take a look at the Rambam’s 13 Principles of Faith.

We Jews don’t advocate simply holding beliefs in our heads. The Rambam didn’t codify the 13 Principles simply to remind us of them. When we review them, we’re meant to take their meaning to heart. To be inspired toward greater fear of Heaven and connection to Hashem. To see life differently and act differently too.

If that’s true, then, why do the last two Principles belong on the list?

Principle 12, possibly the most famous, states, “I believe with complete faith in the coming of Moshiach. And even though he tarries, I will still wait every day for him to come.” And Principle 13 speaks about the revival of the dead after the ge’ulah.

Let’s leave Principle 13 for a different day’s discussion, and focus on Principle 12. We’ve all heard inspirational lectures that end with a fervent, “And may we merit to witness the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days.” It comes across as a hope-tinged prayer that Moshiach arrive soon and wipe away our challenges.

But is that all there is to our focus on Moshiach? A hope for better times? Or, like the other core Jewish beliefs, is it meant to change something about the way we serve Hashem today, right now?

That something might be this: when we think about the coming of Moshiach, when the world will fill with recognition of Hashem as the sole Master of the Universe, we’re stirred to ask ourselves – what can I do today to make myself and the world more fit to experience this?

Which means making the right choice in a struggle of avodah doesn’t just earn us personal Heavenly credit. It ushers the era of Moshiach that much closer.

Every choice we face – to daven with kavanah or not, say something hurtful or not, to do the favor or not, to push ourselves to learn a bit longer or not – they don’t just matter in our own little worlds. Each one plays a part in the bigger picture of Hashem’s process of Geulah.

Our daily tefillos – our little trips into the world of yediyah – make many references to Moshiach and Ge’ulah. Each one offers an opportunity to tap into future-yediyah’s power to enhance our avodas Hashem. To bring to mind the cosmic influence of our choices, and to live differently because of it.

Yediyah doesn’t just comfort us with the knowledge that there’s a purpose to our pain. It gives us the power to actively work toward this purpose – to live aligned with the values of Ge’ulah.