Wonderful, Gut-Wrenching Anticipation

Favorite Christmas memory?  Staying up late Christmas Eve nights with my little brother.  He would camp out on my bedroom floor and we would talk for hours letting our imaginations fly about Santa, what gifts we might find under the tree and how excited we were to give our gifts to others.  We could hardly contain our elation over what was to come; it felt impossible to go to sleep.  We looked so forward to the morning that the waiting seemed almost truly painful, yet completely thrilling at the same time.  It was wonderful, gut-wrenching anticipation.


I am not going to discuss the merits (or more likely demerits) of Santa here today and I understand that many will feel that children excited about gifts is a display of materialistic greed (bah-humbug!).   In my opinion, gifts (tangible and intangible ones) are awesome.  I love to give them and, being a person who loves surprises, I enjoy receiving them too.  We have an exceedingly giving God.  He lavishes grace onto the undeserving and we need to reflect that giving nature as well, especially to those who cannot return the favor (Luke 14:12-14).


I encourage you to build on the anticipation of this season and direct it God-ward.  Allow children to be excited about gifts, encourage them to wonder at what they might receive (always teaching thanksgiving); let them experience what anticipation feels like.  Help them to be cheerful givers too (2 Cor. 9:7).  Discuss the emotions they are feeling and what it has to do with their relationship with Christ.  What does it have to do with a relationship with Christ?  Let me tell you.


The Bible throbs with anticipation. People of the Old Testament lived in anticipation of a Savior, someone to relieve the impossible burden of the law and to fulfill the prophesies which foretold a Redeemer.  John the Baptist came to prepare the way and build anticipation for the coming Christ.  Jesus came and fulfilled the anticipation, yet continued to point us toward more.  He talked of his Heavenly Kingdom, stating that he is going to prepare a place for us and added, “I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:3.  Wow!  Jesus gives himself as a payment for our sins, is resurrected to life and now has a place ready for us in Heaven, where we get to be with him forever to enjoy his glory and perfect presence.  Hello?  Can you feel the anticipation building?


There’s more.  Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”  Unless we get there first, Jesus is coming to get us!  And in style (serious style and serious power, read Revelations 19:11-16!). 


We who are Christians have SO MUCH to look forward to.  It is too much to contain and too joyous to express - plus the Bible tells us it is going to happen soon.  This is wonderful, gut-wrenching anticipation!  While I am zealous for the righteousness of the Lord, desiring justice to be finally executed upon those who reject him (“Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;” Ps. 10:15) my deepest longing is to enjoy the fullness of my Savior face to face forever and as soon as possible (“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” Ps 15:27:4).   If you don’t have feelings like this, you need to evaluate your heart; you may not know Jesus like you claim.


Ladies, train yourself in living a life of anticipation, allow this season be a reminder of all you have to look forward to and teach your friends and family the same.  Display it for them; be excited to celebrate Christ and the insane gifts that he offers of redemption and forever life with him.  Use the anticipation of gift giving and receiving as a springboard for gospel conversations.  Focus your energy and fullest joy on times of praise and adoration of the greatest gift Giver of all, our Lord God. 
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Just like Christmas Eve with my little brother, may your nights be so filled with thoughts of our incredible Savior that it keeps you up late at night filled with anticipation of all that is to come.  Come, Lord Jesus!