Expectations

An expectation is the hope or dread of a future circumstance.  They vary in degree and longevity.  Today, I want to speak concerning the hope of future joys and triumph.  Each of us have expectations that we give very little thought to.  Such as, when we go to sleep we expect to wake up to another day or we sit down and expect the chair to hold us up.  However, there are many expectations that we dwell upon.  These give us great joy while we do not possess or see the end of the hope. 

Romans 8 says we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope.  For we do not hope for that which has already come to pass.  We do not hope for a rose that has bloomed.  We hope while the rose is but a bud.  There are timely, daily expectations that we long to have accomplished.  I greatly desire and am comforted by the thought of leaving work at the end of the day and coming home with my children to be together with my wife as a family.  Sometimes the events of the day or week prevent this from true.  Proverbs says that hope deferred maketh the heart sick.  If it is deferred enough, the hope will diminish to a degree that it may become  inperceptible or die.  We read in Luke 24 that the disciples of the Lord had hope it was he that should restore Israel.  Their hope had died when Jesus died.  Peter would write that he was begotten again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.  Evidently his hope had died and was resurrected when Jesus was resurrected.   

The salvation that hope gives does not save us to heaven and has nothing to do with eternal salvation.  Otherwise it would never diminish and never grow.  It would be as constant and unchanging as Christ since his seed remains in us.  We are strengthen for the tasks we face every hour by the hope that they will be accomplished and have an end.  The tasks that continue many days have an end and expectation begins and grows as we see the "light at the end of the tunnel".  Solomon said the end of a thing is better that the begining.  we have experienced this truth.

One such expectation that saves me weekly is the expectation that Sunday is less than a week away.  I long for the fellowship and communion with my dear Lord, as well as with his saints.  We have regular meeting times and special meeting times.  Special meaning annual or randomly scheduled events.  We also have communions (Lord's Supper) and baptisms in which we observe the ordinances that the Lord put into his church.  These are very high days in my expectation.  Soon we will have the West Amite Association.  This gives us the opportunity to fellowship with friends and brethren that we do not see as regularly as we would like.  It gives us a very small glimpse of the second coming of Christ.  In a small way, every meeting time gives us that glimpse.  There is a gathering with the Lord and his people that is spiritual.  We rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory as we sing praise to our King, pray together in  his name, and hear the glory and might of our Saviour preached.  The larger the gathering the more it reminds me of the day that Jesus will come, himself, and gather his people out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. 
It is not a perfect picture, as there are those who will not be with us that have been the pillars and faithful examples in years gone by.  We miss their presence and long for the day when we will again see them in glory and power. 

The salvation that is found in our expectations are never as great and joyous as when they are fulfilled.  But there are many days of drinking from the saucer as we long for and expect to see our Lord and worship his holy name.  May we make a point to expect often and be refreshed together as many days as we can.  May we not let the affairs of this life entangle us and rob us from our salvations by hope.  Brethren, expect!  Our God is in the heavens, he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.