Eagerness for Christ’s Return

If we diagnose ourselves, would we have a reputation—if people were to see us—that we are a Christ-awaiting people? That they would say, These people live in the most affluent country. They have more toys and opportunities for physical enjoyment than anybody else. But they’re not looking for satisfaction there. They’re looking for the age to come. And they believe that Christ is coming, and that’s where all their hopes are. Would people say that of us? You may say, Well, don’t I have to make provision for the needs I have in the world? Yes, as you trust in the Lord, as he makes them available to you. And yet our dreams, our hopes, our fervour, our passion, our satisfaction are bound up—not here—but in the things to come. Or are we like those who were mocked, as it were, by C. S. Lewis? He mocked those who spend their lives making sandcastles while the tide is rushing in. Well, Jesus said, Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. And so, does our lifestyle give us a reputation of people whose treasure is in heaven? In fact, our treasure is the Lord of heaven, Jesus Christ, and we are living now with a confident and joyful expectation of his coming soon.¹

Richard D. Phillips