WAITING
Sleeping, eating and other life sustaining activities consume a significant portion of our lives. We embrace these activities because they are necessary for survival. A multitude of recreational pastimes eat away at the balance of our waking hours. Waiting is also a necessary task, but we typically despise the hours spent in limbo. According to a Timex survey, Americans wait: on average 20 minutes a day for the bus or train, 32 minutes at the doctor, 28 minutes in security lines traveling, 21 minutes for a significant other to get ready to go out, 13 hours annually on hold with customer service, 38 hours each year in traffic, 50 in Big cities. Human beings spend approximately 6 months of their lives waiting in line for things. (logisticsmgepsupv.wordpress.com/2017/04/04/how-much-time-of-an average-life-is-spent-waiting/)
As much as we despise waiting, many things are worth waiting on. God is foremost on that list. King David said “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalms 27:13-14 NKJV) Devout men continued to wait on God throughout history. “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” (Luke 2:25-26 NKJV) Simeon was not alone. “Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” (Mark 15:43 NKJV)
Jesus instructed the Apostles to wait for promised power. “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49 NKJV) Realization of the promise on Pentecost set the final phase of God’s plan of redemption into motion. All of creation has waited with anticipation for this opportunity. “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19 NKJV) “Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:23 NKJV)
Realizing the great value of redemption creates hope. Anticipation is a longing or desire for something. Hope is anticipation that the realization will be far better than what we have at the present! “But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (Romans 8:25 NKJV) We hope that by living righteously in faith that we will have a home in heaven. “For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Galatians 5:5 NKJV) “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV)
Jesus paid the price for sins so that we can anticipate eternal salvation despite the necessity of dying. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.’ (Hebrews 9:27-28 NKJV) Saul of Tarsus had to face this dilemma. “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16 NKJV) Waiting is a part of living. However, it is unwise to wait to do those things that are necessary. Do not postpone your obedience. Afterward you may wait patiently. “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5:7-8 NKJV)