anniversaries, Christmas, Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall...always looking ahead to what's
coming next, sometimes at the expense of not getting the full enjoyment out of where you
are at the present! Some of the things we anticipate change as we get older, for example
birthdays! I remember when I was young always yearning to be that next year older. Now
birthdays are not greeted with as much enthusiasm, being another year older doesn't hold
the same excitement anymore! There is one thing however that we should anticipate more
than anything else.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 & 17 "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord."
Are you anticipating the return of the Lord? If you find yourself more excited at the
thought of your next vacation then that of the Lord's return, then you have a problem!
For the child of God, this event should be branded in our hearts. This thought should
propel our every action of the day. We unfortunately tend to fall into complacency about
this coming event, and I believe it's because we do not know when it will occur. We are
reminded in 1 Thessalonians 5:2, "That the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the
night." A thief does not announce his coming. He comes silently, as will our Lord. There
will be no wondrous announcement of His arrival like at His first appearance in Bethlehem
those many years ago. This old world will be taken unaware.
Our daily walk will not be what it should be if we are not looking for the Lord at any
moment. When we are getting close to our vacations there is much planning, talking and
preparing for the day we depart. We go over the route we will travel, make sure we have
enough money, that reservations are all made in advance. However, our earthly departure
to eternity seldom gets a second thought. No planning or preparing is happening, and we
are not going to be ready when our Lord comes back for us. Jesus implores us in Matthew
25:13 "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of
man cometh."
Philippians 3:20 "For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven: from whence also
we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:" Once we are saved, we become children
of the most High God, we are no longer of this earth, our citizenship has been moved to
Heaven. The cares and burdens of this old world will become unimportant and dimmed
when our eyes are fastened heavenward, looking for our blessed Savior. We are reminded
in John 14:2b & 3 "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be
also."
Jesus is coming back for us. He says in Revelation 22:12 "Behold I come quickly" Are
you ready? Are you looking forward with joyous anticipation to the Lord's return? Or,
will you be unprepared, caught off guard and ashamed at His coming? Jesus has been
preparing for our arrival and He's coming soon to get us, don't put off the necessary
preparations for this glorious day! Titus 2:13 "Looking for that blessed hope and the
glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ"
Some Golden Daybreak
Some glorious morning sorrow will cease,
Some glorious morning all will be peace;
Heartaches all ended, schooldays all done,
Heaven will open, Jesus will come.
Sad hearts will gladden, all shall be bright,
Goodbye forever to earth's dark night;
Changed in a moment, like Him to be,
O glorious daybreak, Jesus I'll see.
O what a meeting, there in the skies,
No tears nor crying shall dim our eyes;
Loved ones united eternally,
O what a daybreak that morn will be.
Some golden daybreak, Jesus will come;
Some golden daybreak, battles all won.
He'll shout the victory, break through the blue,
Some golden daybreak, for me, for you.
Carl A. Blackmore
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