Anticipation

Anticipation
Psalm 126
Isaiah 40:1-11
Romans 8:22-25

One of the hallmarks of a true Christian is that he/she is filled with anticipation, another word for hope. We have hope not only for the near future, but for eternity. The opposite attitude is the old-fashioned feeling of apathy or acedia. The desert fathers named it one of the seven deadly sins and called it the “noonday devil”. It was not the darkness of depression but the idea that in the heat of the sun, nothing was worth the effort. It implies boredom, lack of energy, lackluster effort and a desire to wile away the time in pleasurable pursuits that have no long-range benefit. But for the people of God the future has meaning and we live in anticipation. This distinguishes us from those who have no hope. John warns us against being lukewarm.
The Jewish people had been captured and taken into exile because they had rebelled against God. But with the second half of the book of Isaiah the tune turns from one of punishment to one of comfort. God is on the move. Their spirits quicken and their longings for home increase as they anticipate the trip back to the land that God had given them. God announces that they have paid their sin debt and that God has forgiven them. They are to prepare for God’s redemption. He will bring justice by leveling the arrogant and lifting the downtrodden. He will bring balance where things have been slanted in favor of the rich and powerful. He will bring stability. God’s word will endure and the rule of God will be in effect. He will restore their fortunes. He will reward them for their faithfulness to him during the exile. They will be comforted and protected like a sheep in the arms of a caring shepherd. God is on the move.
And so the Jews do the work at hand while preparing to be on the move when God makes the way. The glory of the Lord will be revealed. Their hearts swell with anticipation and they find songs on their lips once more. They can envision a different kind of life in their own land. And he promises us this same restoration. Paul talks about waiting patiently for those things for which we hope. This implies a durable confidence, a lack of anxiety, a joyful hope. God is making all things right. The writings of both Isaiah and Paul ring with anticipation.
It seems to me that the “noonday devil” is on the prowl for Christians in our day. In many there is a lack of energy for the things of God—Bible study and prayer, reaching the lost, confronting evil and working for justice. It isn’t that we never do these things, but that when done, these things are done out of routine, half-heartedly, with little joy or hope. It is much easier to wile away the hours in pleasurable pursuits that kill the hours, demanding little. I find that I am a victim of this myself. I find myself playing hours of Solitaire, watching TV, taking naps and wonder why I spend my time and money on things that have no lasting value. In this Advent season I need to remember that God is on the move. He is building the kingdom of God and the culmination is near at hand. He will return to establish and fulfill this kingdom. There is a time coming when all will be made right and I want to be in the midst of the happening. As I think on this my heart begins to swell with anticipation. I want to be ready. I want to fill my life with things that really matter as I wait patiently for Lord to come again. Yes, God is visibly here in his church, but he is also working behind the scenes in ways that I can hardly imagine. He is on the move. He is coming! He is near at hand. Come, Lord Jesus.