PURIFY LONGING EXPECTATION

How about this freezing weather?  Where in the world did the global warming go?  I heard tell from the same folks who promote global warming that we are now entering into the ice age that will remedy the vast ice melt that we have experienced in global warming!!! Don’t get me started! It is an amusement, though.  We can have confidence in the Creator of this planet that HE will sustain it for us. I will do my small part but let the Master 

Designer do the maintenance. Wow, side bar!

Do you ever have a longing to go south at this time of the year?  Since the “ice age” began last month, my thoughts go to a place where it is warm with sunshine.  It is a place where I would love to be outdoors much of the time.  I go into hibernation mode about now, something that is not good AT ALL for a woman my age. It takes an act of self discipline to even run errands, no less get to the gym and go for a walk!  I know, for you on this blog that are half my age, you are probably thinking I’m a wimp…could be!

This morning as I was meditating on the second part of 1 John 3:2, I have developed a new longing for my perfection to come as a believer. In love, God gives me a chance to anticipate His appearing. He motivates and excites me about His appearing.  He says in 1 John 3:2 that, as God’s child I don’t know exactly what I’m in for, “But we do know that we will be like him, for we shall see him as he really is.”   Pastor Mike gave three batches of scripture to fill in some of the gaps.

In Philippians 3:20, 21 we are encouraged about our physical change: “But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Whew! A glorious body…I don’t have a good picture in my mind of what it will be like, because it is probably ill-perceived, but I know my glorious body won’t get sick, ache or run down!  So, I’m shouting Hallelujah!

1 Corinthians 15:50,51  tells that my changed self will be raised imperishable, incorruptible, immortal! That is certainly something to which I look forward!

Psalm 17:15 was picturesque to me. “And I---in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.” The wording almost makes me think that David’s pondering bred awe and longing. Awaking from the sleep of death, he would IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, see Christ’s likeness….without a sin nature, IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, sinless like Jesus! I am nearly breathless with that.  Oh, how I long to be sinless, righteous like Jesus!  And I won’t want another thing but to see Him.

Now the very cool realization here comes in verse 3. “And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.” This longing and expectation of Jesus’ appearing and my subsequent change into His likeness is what purifies me, just as He is pure. This is the answer to the question of, “How do I live till then in my fallible, corroding, sinful body?” “Where is the victory today?” “I cannot do this righteous living thing!” The answer to all of this is to have the eager expectation of His appearing at the forefront of the mind.

 

The forefront of the mind is a battleground for sure.  The thought life is where the flesh succumbs to temptation giving birth to sin.  Watch what the mind’s focus on the appearing does for the walk of the believer. Titus 2:11- 13 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say, “No,” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope---the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (bold italics mine.)  That longing permits me to say, along with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day---and not only to me but also to all who have long for his appearing.” 2Timothy 4:7-8 (bold italics mine). I can have confidence that my pursuit will be rewarded because of the purifying longing for His appearing.  It will have kept me busy to fight a good fight and win a good race and keep the faith.

I looked at the practicality of day to day focusing that is taught in Colossians 3:1-4.  Setting my mind and heart on things above with Christ and God in heaven, keeps truth of who and what I am in Christ at the forefront of my mind’s eye. Then, “when Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Verse 4.  The verses that come after this are the imperatives of the life lived for the Lord.  However, they cannot be accomplished without the mind being fixed on God, Christ, heaven and His glorious appearing! That is what is going to purify my walk!  The conscious fixing of our minds on those things make possible the walk in life in the imperatives.

 

My business is to focus on the loving relationship the Father desires with me. Relationship. Loving Him back. I’ll walk and talk with Him, longing for the day I’ll see His glorious face, feel His loving hands cup my face, and hear Him say, “I love you. You’re home. Welcome to glory.”

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!