I don’t know if any of you are fans of international soccer or not, but I am. If you are a fan, then you are probably aware of the fact that today (Jan. 31st) is the trade deadline for a majority of the leagues around the globe. The team that I support has been surprisingly good this season so I have been checking for possible trade updates with much anticipation. This anticipation, however, is short-lived…once the trade deadline passes it is gone. There will still be anticipation and hope that my team will finish the season strong and win the title, but these 2 weeks of excited anticipation for potential new signings will be in the past.
It is this concept of anticipation that I want to discuss today. In this sense, the best definition of anticipation is, “look forward to.” In my previous example, I am looking forward to my team signing a good player. As I said, though, tomorrow I will not be able to look forward to it because it will be in the past. The Apostle Paul writes of a much greater anticipation that encompasses all of creation. In Romans 8 he writes,
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
Creation itself is waiting in anticipation for the promises found at the end of Revelation to come about. And not only waiting, but eagerly waiting. Paul continues…
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Somehow, we are to be both eagerly and patiently waiting for those Revelation promises to be made true. Creation doesn’t need to have patience because it has no expectation other than to be ready.
The responsibility of those who have received the Holy Spirit is greater though believers are to be patiently ready. This is almost feels paradoxical because it is so hard to do both simultaneously. Theologians often refer to concepts like this as an “already/not yet” scenario. Paul is talking about something that has already happened but also has not yet completely happened. We are new creations as believers (Exciting! Eager!), but there are aspects of that new creation that we have to wait patiently to be fully revealed.
I have times where I am very eagerly expectant of those promises; even to the point of neglecting the reality of the present. It is akin to refreshing the trade update page repeatedly all day today and ignoring the fact I should be finishing this blog post (I promise it wasn’t all day but probably more than it should have been).
I also have times where the pendulum swings to the other side and I am patiently expectant of those promises; even to the point of neglecting the reality they could be fulfilled at any moment. All patience and no eagerness makes Robin a dull evangelist.
So how can we do both? How can we be patiently eager about our anticipation? We see a glimpse of this within the book of Revelation itself. The Apostle John begins sharing the vision he received in verse 1:9 like this:
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
…and concludes it in 22:20 like this:
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
So, John demonstrates his patient faithfulness to the work God called him to while at the same time eagerly prays in affirmation to Jesus promising to return soon. He has been arrested and essentially marooned on the Isle of Patmos yet continues to spread the Gospel to the utmost of his ability; a passionate evangelist to the end.
John teaches us that it is necessary to be open and available to do the work God has chosen us to do but to do so in a way that is always looking forward to the complete fulfillment of His eternal promises. We must be patiently aware of the Holy Spirit’s prompting. But we must also yearn for the day when Christ returns in all of His glory.
Brothers and sisters, I pray that if, like me, you find it all too easy to be caught up in the anticipations of the world that you would join me in anticipating for ways to do His will. The soccer trade deadline has come and gone…my fleeting anticipation has gone with it. God has so much more for us to anticipate. May you be richly blessed as you attempt to balance your anticipation like the Apostle John!
Holy Spirit, I pray that you would help us hunger to see your Kingdom work done on earth as it is in Heaven. May we also hunger with the anticipation of Your coming return King Jesus!
