Love His Appearing By Dr. Paul Chappell

#MorningGlory
RTTBROS
Love His Appearing"

by Dr. Paul Chappell

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:6-8

The busyness of life can easily consume all of our time and attention. Even if we are doing good things, we can miss the most important things if we are not careful. And the most important next event on God's calendar is the return of the Lord. We should live each day with the knowledge that He could come, and with the hope that He will. This is what loving His appearing looks like in action. Alexander MacLaren said, “The apostolic church thought more about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ than about death and heaven. The early Christians were looking, not for a cleft in the ground called a grave but for a cleavage in the sky called Glory.”

None of us knows how long we will live or whether the Lord will return during our lives, but each of us should long for the day when we see Him. We must not allow ourselves to be so caught up in the things of the world that we lose our overwhelming love for God. Anyone who has been separated from their loved ones for a long period of time, whether because or war or work or sickness or something else, knows how eagerly the reunion is anticipated. We count down the days and even the hours until we see those we love on earth. But how often do we view the Lord's return with the same anticipation and joy? The passage of time since the promise of His return was given has not changed the certainty of it. He is coming again.

Today's Growth Principle:
We should live each day in a manner which reflects our longing to see Jesus face to face.