“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”

Anticipation is a component of hope. A student applies to what she believes is an ideal university. Day by day, she runs to the mailbox to see if the university of her first choice accepted her. That is eager anticipation. The words “eagerly wait for” here connote far more than anticipation.

“from which we also eagerly wait for”

The words “from which” means from heaven, where we have our citizenship. Instead of looking for a monarch’s arrival from earth, the Christian eagerly anticipates his Monarch from heaven.

“Eagerly wait for” is one word in Greek. It is a double compound word made up of three Greek words: from and out and wait. The term “from” indicates the withdrawal of one’s attention from other matters. We need to concentrate on His coming. The second word, “out,” intensifies the concentration. So far, we have a person intensely focused on the arrival of his Monarch. The third part of the word is the word “wait.” “Wait” means “receive” or “welcome.” This speaks of a welcoming reception. The accumulation of all three of these words means this person is intensely concentrating on giving Monarch Jesus a welcoming reception.

To put this idea in physical terms, let us return to the girl waiting for the mail. She steps out of the house, leans out the door, and stretches her neck out to look down the street to see if the mailman is coming. She is on the tiptoe of expectancy.

“Eagerly wait for” denotes standing on the tiptoe of expectancy, waiting for the return of the Lord Jesus. This is far more than casual interest. It is an intense yearning. Christians eagerly anticipate Jesus for whom they yearn.

the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ

Attention is drawn from everything else and focused exclusively upon the Lord. The full designation of His names “the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” converges upon His person and work (Savior). We intensely concentrate upon welcoming our Monarch King Jesus’ person because of His saving work when He returns.

PRINCIPLE:

The focus of Christianity is upon Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION:

A cardinal principle of Christian living is to be Christ-centered. Are you in love with the Lord Jesus? Do you anticipate seeing Him? Do you long to see Him? On the other hand, is Jesus just a necessary nuisance and inconvenience to your life? If the latter is true, a profound spiritual aberration has seeped into your soul. Not only should Jesus be important to us, but He should also be at the core, the center of our lives. Do you anticipate seeing Him any day now? He may come momentarily.

“If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O LORD, come!” (1 Cor. 16:23)