Waiting for His arrival . . .

If I got a letter from my beloved cousin in the USA, filled with news and at the end he said he would be at my house in three weeks, what part of the letter would have me the most excited? Seeing him in person would be a huge blessing. Three weeks would seem forever as I waited for his arrival.

The early Christians knew that Jesus promised to return; they just didn’t know when. This would be both exciting and difficult. Like me waiting for my cousin, they would do all necessary preparations for His arrival but they could not simply sit on the steps until He showed. Paul wrote telling them how to manage their time while they looked forward to that day.

First, they were to wait . . .

 . . . Your faith in God has gone forth everywhere . . . the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:8–10)

This was not a problem for them. In their afflictions and persecutions, they were eager for His return. He would deliver them from God’s wrath, but also from their present distresses. I need to wait also, not because life is sometimes a challenge, but because I am eager to see Jesus!

Second, they were to keep on, not only living godly lives but remembering they were precious in Paul’s life . . .

For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy. (1 Thessalonians 2:19–20)

In his book, “The Applause of Heaven,” Max Lucado imagines there will be people lined up to welcome home each believer. He wrote this to encourage his readers to be excited to see Jesus rather than be anxious and fearful about death.

Third, they were to keep on keeping on . . .

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:12–13)

Some have ‘sold everything and sat on the roof’ waiting for Jesus. Paul says no. Instead, we are to abound in love for all people and be holy, cooperating with the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

Fourth, he gives some details about that event . . .

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)

Jesus’ return will be a magnificent reunion of believers, so glorious and exciting that my imagination runs wild. This description is debated by theologians but no matter what they say, the promise is clear; we will all be together with Jesus. As we wait, He gives us comfort and emotional strength!

Last, God will do it . . .  

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24)

When that day comes, my struggles with sin and efforts to be godly will end; I will be like Christ — because He will finish what He started in me!

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Lord Jesus, there are days when thoughts of this great event do not enter my mind. Forgive me. I ought to be thinking about Your return so much that my life is increasingly given over to everything You want from me and to Your amazing power to transform it. Lately, I’ve been tired, without a lot of ambition or forward thinking. Fill my mind today with thoughts of Your return. It will not be signaled by the ring of a doorbell, but when it happens, I will know that it is You and that it is time to move from this life and be with You forever. This is my comfort and my hope. Amen.