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.

Now Possible

Powerful “fellowships” that have eternal value are now possible. These wonderful unions of fellowship have never before been available. These new partnerships are gifts that have been given to us by the power of the “new covenant”. Today it is possible for us to eternally join with Jesus, God, the Spirit and even other Christians. These new unions were not available before the coming of our Savior and His Spirit to live on earth with humans. 

John absolutely loved the unique fellowship that he had with Jesus. He wrote to us: We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy. 1 John 1:3-4 (NLT). John had the most wonderful fellowship that ever existed between humans.

No one had ever fellowshipped with God the way John was privileged to do. Today the Spirit has come to live in us and we have the potential for great fellowship with God. The Kingdom of God is being built and it is based on fellowship. Even in this world, family fellowship is a fact of life. Usually we don’t like it when some powerful family shuts us out from something we want. But God is offering His family membership to “who-so-ever will”. 

Paul tells us about this possible fellowship in ideas that may be difficult to understand. The Bible says: …The cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. Eph 2:20-22 (NLT). He is talking about a “new temple” that God is building today out of fellowship. 

This new covenant of fellowship provides us the opportunity to join with the family of God. Human history is full of people worshiping many things as God, but nobody believed that anyone could actually become one with God. The Bible says: …God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Cor 1:9 (NLT). This is an amazing fact. 

After Paul had been transformed into a new person, he worked hard to tell others. He saw the great potential of the Gospel: …You have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Phil 1:5-6 (NLT). 

Today more has been revealed about God’s plan than ever before. Everyone has opportunities to become a transformed person. This must happen to us if we plan on living with God in the next world. An American must give up the idea of living for themselves because it will not work in this new life of fellowship. Jesus gave His life to other people as the example of fellowship that we follow. All this is possible in the new covenant.