Live in Anticipation

(1 Thessalonians 1:10 KJV)  And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Paul praises them as they “wait” (362).  This is a compound word and the prefix gives it the sense of intense wait.  These people were focused on the return of Jesus.  We will see later that this caused some problems but it was the kind of focus that lead them to be more serious about their lives and their obedience.  If you look back to the previous verses you see repeated reference to the positive effect their active faith was having. 

I am not a big one for focusing on the end times.  I remember that Jesus said He would come when people were not expecting Him.  To me that means it won’t be soon because so many are focused on that event.  But there is something about expectation.  If I come home tonight and the dining room table is cleaned off and I see vacuum trails on the rugs I can assume that someone is coming.  It may be days away.  They may have a change of plans.  But someone is coming that was worth changing our habits and patterns.  We are not talking about the Fed Ex man or the plumber.  We are talking about someone who is important to us.

So?  How are you waiting?  Are the tables of your life cleaned off.  Are your rugs cleaned.  Is your trash emptied?  Jesus may tarry.  Live like He is poised to knock.