Anticipation?

^{Hebrews 11: 8} By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. ⁹ By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (NIV)

Yesterday, I had one more day left of my brief Thanksgiving vacation.  My family attended Hoover Heights CMA Church with my mother-in-law.  Pastor Larry Lwellyn  preached on Hebrews 11:1-10.  His message was titled "Too Close for Comfort".  As he spoke, I pondered his thoughts on the lack of anticipation that many Christians have for the Second Coming of Christ.

I can remember as a child growing up in a Presbyterian church where a regular part of our communion celebration was to end our prayers with the phrase "even so Lord Jesus quickly come."  I wonder for how many of us are these words a heartfelt desire?  

I admit that I am very focused on the present and the near future that I am not anticipating the return of Christ.  Probably, many of you are like me in that regard.  We don't wake up thinking this could be the day.  We don't go about our daily routine thinking that either.  Its been thousands of years since He made that promise surely, it's going to be awhile longer.

Yet, Scripture tells us to be ready AND to anticipate His coming.  

I am ready in the sense that I have surrendered my life to Christ.  My salvation rests in His death and resurrection. I am made righteous by the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in my life.  Yet, do I anticipate His coming?  Do I look forward, as Abraham did, "to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

As Christians, we love to look at the "signs of the times" to determine how close we are to Christ's return.  We like to have theological debates about the course of end time events and the significance of current events in that timeline.  But, again I wonder how much are we anticipating JESUS coming again?  How excited are we about HIM coming and all that will mean for us and for the Kingdom of God?  Are we so concerned about our daily lives or about the rightness of our Biblical interpretation that we fail to anticipate the ONE whom these events are centered on?  Do we really want Jesus to come so much so that we can say "even so Lord Jesus quickly come"?

And if that is our prayer how much of our desire is for Him and not just for relief from the sufferings of this world?

Admittedly this morning, I am not sure my anticipation-level is where it needs to be nor is it focused on who it needs to be focused upon.  I pray the Lord will awaken my soul!

Have a great day in the Lord!

Pastor Russ