Living expectant of the Lord’s return (10 Ways to Grow Spiritually)

Over the next several episodes, I want to talk about ten ways that will help you grow spiritually, deepen your intimacy with Jesus, and practically live the authentic Christian life.

The modern church is passive, weak, and impure; yet, how much of that is a result of our lack of expectancy at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ?

If you want to grow spiritually, you need to have “eternity stamped on your eyeballs” and live in light of the Lord’s return.

In this episode, we explore nine ways Scripture says we are to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ … and as such, what that means for how we live day-to-day.

Listen to or download the episode

Living with Expectancy

Paul, in Titus 2:11–15, tells us:

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.”

As Christians, we not only look back with awe and gratitude for God’s grace that has brought salvation to us and transformed our lives, but God also gives us an expectant hope in His future return.

Our “forward focus” is not one of foreboding, fear, or anxiety … it is supposed to be marked by great hope and expectancy (excitement). Is that true for you?

The term “looking for” (awaiting) that Paul uses in Titus 2 means to look forward the occurrence of or arrival of; receive, welcome, to accept; receive in a friendly manner (a bouncing on toes, a smile on face, a big bear hug). Throughout Scripture, several people are said to have lived with an expectant “looking for.” For example:

• Joseph of Arimathea waiting for the Kingdom of God (Mark 15:43; Luke 23:51)
• Simeon, waiting for the comfort of Israel (Luke 2:25)
• Ana (in the Temple) (Luke 2:38)
• Servants awaiting master when he returns home (Luke 12:36)

Scholar and commentator Robert W. Yarbrough wrote, “… it is clear that ‘wait’ can describe a posture, not of passivity in the face of a fickle future … but of dogged confidence in God and his sure promises, however remote they may seem at times. … Paul describes, a waiting that is proactive, alert, and expectant.”⁽¹⁾

Do you have that type of focus, excitement, and expectancy for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ? Are you passively hopeful or do you live with a “dogged confidence” with a “proactive, alert, and expectant” waiting?

Peter reminds us that we are “… looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God …” (2 Peter 3:12).

How do we practically “hope” and expect His appearing?

Scripture tells us how we are to live in light of the return of Christ. I’ve simplified them down into nine areas:

1. Earnestly watch and be ready

• Matthew 24:36, 42 – “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. … Therefore stay awake, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.”

2. Live well and keep the faith

• 2 Timothy 4:7 – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.

3. Cultivate a love for His coming

• 2 Timothy 4:8 – In the future there is laid up 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 loved His appearing.
  • This means that if there is anything you want to do or experience (get married, visit a certain place, etc. … and want God to wait to return until then … then I don’t think you really know what it means for the Lord to return. We should LOVE, long for, and be willing to lay aside all things for His return.

4. Fix our hope on His coming and prepare ourselves

• 1 Peter 1:13–15 – Therefore, having girded your minds for action, being sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, not being conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your conduct …

5. Walk in Obedience and Live Holy, Righteous, and Godly

• Romans 13:12–13 – The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
• Titus 2:12–13 – … we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ …
• 1 Timothy 6:14 – … that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ …

6. Be Patient

• James 5:7–8 – Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the soil, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

7. Remain in God’s love

• Jude 21 – … keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

8. Be anxious for nothing

• Philippians 4:5–6 – Let your considerate spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

9. Pray for His return

• Revelation 22:17a – And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
  • “Maranatha” = “come Lord Jesus, come”

Go deeper

Check out: Romans 8:23–24; Galatians 5:5; Ephesians 1:18; Colossians 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 2:19

Stamp eternity on my eyeballs

Leonard Ravenhill used to quote Jonathan Edwards who said, “God, stamp eternity on my eyeballs!”

What if we lived with eternity in view? What if we lived with an expectancy of our Lord’s return? It truly would change how we lived … and would deepen and grow our spiritual lives.

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Listen to the series: 10 ways to grow spiritually

• Worship
• Obedience
• Thanksgiving
• Prayer
• Living expectant of the Lord’s return

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FOOTNOTES

(1) Robert W. Yarbrough, The Letters to Timothy and Titus, ed. D. A. Carson, Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; London: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2018), 529.
Photo Credit: Pearl

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Question: How are you intentionally living a life of expectancy? How is it deepening your spiritual life?