Living With Eager Expectation

“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3 NLT)

Ron Hutchcraft wrote: “In a few places in the world, there is a man who literally embodies a nation. For the Middle Eastern kingdom of Jordan, for many years King Hussein was that kind of man. His stature on the international scene could be measured by a lot of influence he had on the Middle East peace talks and even by the unprecedented coming together of friends and enemies at his funeral. But those who loved him most, of course, were his own countrymen.

He was gone from Jordan for many of what turned out to be the last months of his life – gone for treatment of a deadly cancer. Just weeks before his final trip for treatment before the cancer claimed his life, King Hussein returned to his beloved country – flying his own airplane. It was a dramatic return for a king who had been gone so long, and the welcome he received was pretty amazing. As a display of affection and loyalty, people slaughtered sheep and goats right on the street as his motorcade passed by. One man even sacrificed a camel that was valued then at $10,000. They literally poured out their love for their returning king.”

How are you and I pouring out our love for our returning King Jesus? There have been many who thought they’d nailed down the exact time of our Savior’s return, only to be embarrassed at their lack of understanding of Scripture. Jesus clearly taught that “no one knows the day or hour” of His Second Coming, “Only the Father knows.”

Of course, the Scriptures give us clues, which should prompt our awareness that it could be very soon. But the plot thickens when we realize we can die at any time before the Lord returns, ushering us into His presence.

As I write, I’m anticipating the arrival of my only daughter. While she’s not a queen, she is my “Princess” and has been since the moment she was born. My heart stirs with excitement just to spend a few precious hours with her. My wife and I will make sure everything is ready for her visit – we’ll clean and prepare her room, have food she likes, snacks, and drinks she enjoys. We want to be fully prepared for her arrival.

Similarly, as we anticipate our coming King, how should we prepare for His arrival? Shouldn’t we make sure His “house” is clean? His Spirit resides in us, so shouldn’t we make every effort to honor Him with our body, mind, heart, and soul? Shouldn’t we live daily offering Him a “feast” of praise and adoration? And what about the sacrifices of our service given to Him as appreciation for all He does to make our lives so enjoyable, satisfying, and wholesome?

2023 has now passed, in the blink of an eye it seems. One day, sooner than any of us can imagine, our lives will end, or Jesus will return. We must not allow ourselves, as the five foolish bridesmaids in the Bible, to become tired, desiring rest more than making sure we’re ready to meet the Groom.

Folks, there’s nothing or nobody who can compare with Jesus. He’s the Treasure of my life; the joy of my heart, the foundation upon which I stand. Every moment of every day I want my heart to beat at the pace of my love for Him, drawing me ever more closely to Him. Death for those of us who know and love Him won’t be an interruption but cause for a celebration.

That’s what it means to me to live with eager expectation!

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊