In the same way a new baby changes the rhythms and routines of our everyday living, so should our anticipation of the Lord's return affect how we approach life. In the last few days, I've gone to bed at night thinking, "Is this it? Could she be here by morning?" It makes every small detail loom large and significant. How differently would my day go, how would my actions and behavior be affected, if I started each morning with the same thought... "Is this it? Will He return today?"
The author of Hebrews speaks of Christians in the early church living "in these last days" (Hebrews 1:2), referring to how much closer they were to the fulfillment of God's promises and the complete restoration of His kingdom on earth. And that was nearly 2,000 years ago! We are that much closer today. Do we live like it? I know I don't wake up every day thinking how life could change in an instant with the return of Jesus. But I think I should. Because isn't that the fullness of the joy which we experience only a small portion of at Christmas time? Isn't it the same eager anticipation with which the author of Revelation wrote:
"He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." Revelation 22:20
Living with this kind of expectation -- dwelling in the spirit of Christ and eagerly anticipation His bodily return, SOON, is the greatest anticipation we can experience in this life. And I'm grateful to be reminded of it as we await the arrival of a new little member of His kingdom.
