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| “…we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…” |
| —Titus 2:11-14 |
What do you do when you have to wait somewhere for something to happen? Over the last twenty years, I’ve spent a great deal of time in the Waiting Rooms of doctor’s offices. A chronic infection in my right foot following a partial amputation in 1998—and culminating in November of 2017 with the amputation below the knee of my right leg and foot—has resulted in frequent visits to a longish list of medical specialists. Each one has a Waiting Room. As efficient as these dedicated professionals tend to be, there is still usually some waiting time for my turn in the Examining Room.
I usually pass the time by sitting quietly, with my eyes closed, thinking about the day and, if the Waiting Room is quiet enough, praying for people that God has laid on my heart. Sometimes, I allow my mind to drift back into the history of my life and I re-live certain events that have significance for me. Other times, I think about how I intend to spend the rest of the day, what tasks need to be completed, what new opportunities I might consider, even what I might write as a blog post for the next day.
I notice that other people read, play games on their smart phones, or watch videos—especially now that smart phones offer such a wide range of entertainment possibilities. Others carry on conversations, often at too loud a volume, either on their cell phones or with companions. Still others fidget nervously in anticipation of their visit with the doctor.
As Christians, we are all ultimately waiting for the return of our Lord. Many, even most, of us may well believe that we will go to be with Him long before He returns to earth. Some may have decided that His return is just around the corner and think about what it will be like when He comes back. All of us recognize that the return of Jesus will be the second most significant event in all of history—the first being His birth, death, and resurrection.
The Apostle Paul, in writing to his friend Titus, whom Paul had sent to minister on the Island of Crete, aptly describes this period of waiting in which all Christians exist, as recorded in Titus 2:11-14:
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Notice the phrase: “…we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…” That’s where we are right now. We are waiting for Christ’s return. But, while we are waiting, we still have much to do as Christ’s ambassadors to a troubled and needy world.
Let’s launch into this new day with a sense of genuine anticipation that today might well be the day that our Lord returns. But, let’s also move forward in our quest to share with those we meet what God has done in our lives through the power of His beloved Son.
Waiting does not need to be a time of tedious boredom. Rather, it can be a time of great usefulness—usefulness to us personally and usefulness to the Kingdom of God here on earth.
