Eagerly Waiting

There may never be a time in our adult life that compares with our excitement on some Christmas Eve of our youth. Our eager waiting was probably so great that our gift the next morning was a let-down. However those of us who eagerly wait for the Lord will not have a let-down when the gift arrives. We believe that everything God has for us will be more wonderful and exciting than anything we have ever imagined.

Unlike this world everything we receive will only continue to become more exciting. This is why every Christian looks forward to the day we leave this world. We are sometimes accused of fatalism but that is completely wrong. Believers are not looking for inescapable disaster but for inescapable bliss. When most Christians leave this world they have an unexplainable smile on their face. Jesus puts this smile into our hearts.

We have received many gifts from the Lord. Here are two of them: He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:28 (NLT). It’s true that our sins have already been dealt with but we are eagerly waiting for our final salvation. Peter spoke of it: …until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 1 Peter 1:5 (NLT).

Christians have a future that is full of excitement. Peter also tells us: Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance … 1 Peter 1:3 (NLT). It is priceless for many important reasons but the simple truth is that we can really be excited as we wait for it. Yes! We can let our excitement rise as far as possible because there is no-way we will ever be disappointed. It is good to have a great God.

Living in this world as a Christian is the beginning of our excitement. Paul said: What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle… Galatians 6:15-16 (NLT). Sometimes people will ask what our life is about. The true Christian is a person that has been transformed into a new creature. These people are eagerly waiting for the Lord to return.

A new creature has risen out of the death of our old nature. This is why we rejoice when a person is raised up out of the water. The Bible says: Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. Romans 6:4-5 (NLT). Our new life is eagerly waiting for its full expression.

Born again people are so excited that they invite others to join them. The Bible says: The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires, drink freely from the water of life. Revelation 22:17 (NLT). We should be eager to tell thirsty people “you may drink FREELY”. This is why we are happy to wait.