John and Paul both expressed a longing for the Lord. Jesus’ reassuring statement at the end of His revelation to John is, “Surely I am coming quickly.” The response of the exile on Patmos is like a shouted plea, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). Paul’s closing words to the church of God in Corinth include, “O Lord, come!” (1 Corinthians 16:22b).
This longing is the undergirding of all faithful Christians. Hebrew converts were reminded that God’s Son “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 9:28).
Christians can confidently long for Jesus because He is our Anchor. The inspired penman said, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil” (Hebrews 6:19). We need an anchor to avoid drifting (Hebrews 2:1). Our Lord serves as a perfect Anchor, having offered His blood on the Father’s ultimate mercy seat in Heaven to atone for our sins (Hebrews 8:5; 9:3, 7-8, 12).
A confident longing for Jesus also arises from the fact that He is our Forerunner, having gone like a scout to prepare our way to Heaven (Hebrews 6:20a). He told the apostles He would go prepare a place and come back for them (John 14:1-6). He suffered through the agony of the cross to lead the way to our heavenly home (Hebrews 5:7-9).
We should confidently long for Jesus because He is our High Priest forever (Hebrews 6:20b). There was a continual replacing of the man who served as the Aaronic High Priest under the Law of Moses because each of them died. Jesus ever lives so he can save us completely (Hebrews 7:24-25). He was the perfect sacrifice because He is holy, free from guilt, unsoiled by sin, separated from sinners and lifted up above the heavens (Hebrews 7:26). He put Himself on the altar once for all time so we could have freedom from our sins (Hebrews 7:27).
Let us join John, Paul and other first century Christians in longing for the Lord. That powerful desire can sustain us until He returns to claim His own.
[Editor’s Note: Prosperity and cherishing this present world more than one should love it can divert the child of God’s attention and lead him to despise both his passing from life into eternity and the ultimate Second Coming of Jesus Christ (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-16). “…Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world…” (2 Timothy 4:10 NKJV). ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]
