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Part of our anticipation is dreaming.
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24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
My dad was in the US Navy. He flew airplanes with other men and even used aircraft carriers as floating airports. There were times when he’d been gone a while, and my mom would gather us up to drive on base to pick him up. I can remember watching the big aircraft carrier come towards the dock. I could see the men putting the big hawsers on the dock cleats, which were about as big as me, and then dad would come down to meet us on the dock. Anticipation. Waiting to see him again. Waiting for those times where we’d be together again, doing the everyday chores of life. But, as a kid, all the waiting wasn’t very fun. It seemed as if an eternity had passed before the big man in his khaki uniform would come down the gang plank with his sea bag over his shoulder.
This is what we’re experiencing right now. We’re waiting. We’re waiting for the day of the Lord. Hopefully, just as I would scamper around the dock trying to make the time pass faster, we’re doing the things we’re called to do as we wait in anticipation of the Day. One of the things we’re to do is encourage one another. Another would be to work hard to grow the kingdom. Imagine the joy we’ll feel as the Day arrives and we’ve been going about our Father’s work, using our time to plant the seeds of the Gospel in the hearts of those around us. The welling up of joy and wonder at that Day will be all the more exuberant as we see those whose seeds have sprung up into full blown gospel flora.
Part of our anticipation is dreaming. Just like when I would spend time thinking of all the fun things I’d be doing with my dad when he returned, we dream of a Day that is coming, a day that is ‘drawing near.’ We also dream of the journey together with those in our community of believers. These dreams are perfectly natural. Dreaming together is a wonderful gift from God. Along with putting action to our dreams. Sharing the beautiful Gospel story with those around us is much like sharing our dreams. In your anticipation of the Day of Christ approaching, think about someone you can share your dream with, captured within the Gospel, and then put action to it.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text]
By Rich Obrecht
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