Expectation and Anticipation

Romans 8:24-25

The word "hope": in the Bible means "expectation". When I think of this word, my mind goes to waiting for Christmas. I expected gifts because we had a promise of gifts. So, since there was expectation, there was also anticipation. I can remember hardly being able to sleep Christmas Eve because of the anticipation of Christmas morning. Most of of could probably relate. Maybe it wasn't Christmas for you. Perhaps it was a trip, or some other exciting event that kept you up. It may have even been anticipation for someone arriving home. Whatever it may have been, we have all experienced anticipation.

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 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Romans 8:24-25

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These verses remind me of Christmas too. Paul says that we are "saved by hope". He is not speaking of our justification which occurs instantaneously by grace through faith. Most people either do not know, or do not think about, that salvation occurs in 3 phases. The first is that instant salvation when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Then there is sanctification which is a lifelong process. Finally, there is glorification which takes place when we get to Heaven and our salvation is completed.

Paul is speaking of our glorification. We wait in expectation for this moment. We talk of the time when we will not have to deal with sin, pain, suffering, and death any longer. We sing songs like "When We All Get To Heaven" and "I Can Only Imagine". There is the expectation and anticipation of seeing our salvation completed. Paul goes on to say that "hope that is seen is not hope". This is like receiving your Christmas presents. Once you open them there is no more anticipation. When we get to Heaven we will no longer anticipate the completion of our salvation. We will have received it. Unlike Christmas, we will not be in danger of being let down by receiving the gift from God. It will be better than anything we could have expected.

Finally, Paul says "But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it". This is where most of us get into trouble with Christmas. Patience is not often one of our strong suits. We wait, worry, and stress over what must be done. We wish the minutes and hours away. It becomes our singular focus. I wonder how different our life would be if we were a little more like that about our salvation.

I don't mean becoming so Heavenly minded that we are of no Earthy good. However, believe far too many of us are not Heavenly minded at all. We are so wrapped up in this world that we do not think about what is beyond. If we were all a little more Heavenly minded, we might remember that many of the people we encounter daily are not able to anticipate Heaven and the completion of their salvation. They cannot see it completed because it has never been begun in their lives. They need to hear the Gospel!

Father, create in me an anticipation for the completion of my salvation. May I long to be in your presences! Help that longing to motivate me to sharing the gospel with others around me. May they receive you as Savior and long to see your work completed in them.