Eagerly Awaiting

Every Wednesday night, at 7pm, I meet a wonderful group of ladies at the Starbucks down the road to study God's word. Particularly, the book of Philippians. I love these nights because the fellowship is so sweet with these girls, and His word becomes so real, so alive and so relevant as we dig in and discuss.

Last week, we approached the end of Philippians 3, and there was one particular verse (and one particular phrase) that really jumped out, stuck with me, and has caused me to continually meditate on it since then:



20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Philippians 3:20-21



EAGERLY AWAIT.



Paul ends the chapter by giving warnings and exhortations and then gives guidance and hope. Paul states the we should eagerly await for the return of our Lord.

eager·ly adv. 1. Having or showing keen interest, intense desire, or impatient expectancy.


Ya'll. I can not stop thinking about this term. This line. This desire for one day getting to meet my true heavenly Father.

I'll never forget this time at NC State, I went with a group of friends to see Shane & Shane in concert at a local church. A young girl opened for them (I hate that I can't remember her name) who sang some beautiful songs of worship. She was maybe only 16 or 17? I remember when she took a break to speak to the the audience, she mentioned this:

"you know, a lot of my friends and family often ask why most of my songs tend to be about life after death and heaven...and basically dying. Well, I guess I never realized that it was the common theme in most of my music, but I do know that I write music about my passions and what I'm passionate about. And ya'll, one thing I am SO passionate about is our Lord and getting to meet Him one day!! So yes, I AM excited for life after death and I AM excited to get to heaven to meet our Father...SO EXCITED! If he even came tomorrow to take us home, I would be the happiest girl ever. Because you guys...this is NOT our home."

Whoa. Right then. Right there. I was slapped with so much conviction and shown a selfish mirror of my heart and mind that I had been ignoring. This girl, who's barely even experienced life (being only a teenager) was already excited to...die? What!?!

Honestly, until that night when I heard her share this, I slightly feared the thought of death. I knew that I was supposed to be excited about my eternal home and life in heaven with our Father one day...but I always thought...what is this life after death really like? This home, here on earth, is all I know? But what if I don't get to have a family and kids before our Lord returns? But I'd really like to see some more of the world and get to travel before our time on earth is finished?

HA! How ridiculous was I!?!? I'm almost ashamed that I ever let my sinful mind trick me into thinking that ANYTHING here on earth could be better than experiencing eternal life with our Almighty God in HIS Kingdom. But that's what our human flesh is accustomed to...sin. And that's what is so great about finally going HOME one day...There will be no more sin. We will struggle no more. There will be no more pain. No more sickness. No more hate. It will be finished.

I can confidently say now, that I am SO excited, with an intense desire, to meet my heavenly Father one day. Afterall, this is not our home.

So until that great day comes, when He turns our lowly flesh into His glorious image, I will push on to live out this life for Him, to strive for His perfection and to be in His image.

Are you willing to give up this earthly home and these wordly things in order to meet our sweet, heavenly Father one day? Are you willing to say goodbye to sin and welcome life...eternal life?

Are you eagerly awaiting His return with me?