“WE EAGERLY WAIT”

Jesus gathered His disciples to prepare them for the coming hours. Soon, Jesus would be arrested, tried, convicted, beaten, and crucified. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1–3, NKJV).

This place that Jesus described is prepared for all who trust in Christ for salvation. Its beauty and splendor will be beyond our wildest imaginations! “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9, NKJV).

While exiled on the Island of Patmos, the Apostle John was given a glimpse of this glorious place. “I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away” (Revelation 21:1-4). There will be no “grief, crying, and pain.” No taxes. No temptations. No troubles.

While imprisoned in Rome, Paul wrote inspired words of encouragement to the Philippians, a people living in a Roman city, under harsh Roman rule. “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body…” (Philippians 3:20-21).

Soon, we’ll join Paul in that glorious abode. There, in heaven, we won’t struggle with arthritic knees. We won’t need blood pressure medications, and we won’t be concerned about COVID or cancer or Alzheimer’s.

Until then, “we eagerly wait.”

“Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).