Anticipation of Home :: By Dennis Huebshman
In 1971, singer Carly Simon wrote a song called “Anticipation” as she waited for her date, another singer of that day, Cat Stevens, to pick her up. While this particular song has nothing to do with the end of this era, we can relate to that feeling as we await our Lord and Savior, Jesus […]
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In 1971, singer Carly Simon wrote a song called “Anticipation” as she waited for her date, another singer of that day, Cat Stevens, to pick her up. While this particular song has nothing to do with the end of this era, we can relate to that feeling as we await our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to come and take all true believers for our “ultimate date.” For those who have received and accepted His gift of eternal Salvation, this will absolutely be the most joyous occasion that we will ever have here. (ESV – all emphasis is mine)
Far too many people are looking for the ultimate gift, the ultimate joy, the ultimate personal satisfaction, and even the ultimate love through what this world supposedly has to offer. This would best be described as; “Looking for Love In All The Wrong Places”, as the song title states in a song by Johnny Lee in 1980.
The truest form of love we will ever experience is given in one of the most popular Bible verses ever: John 3:16; “For God so loved the world, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Our one and only true creator could have been totally different and ruled over us with an iron fist and with absolutely no tolerance of our feelings at all.
There are stipulations that He has made for us to be able to receive our eternal home with Him, and to some people, they seem very difficult to follow. John 3:17-18; “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
While believing is one of the elements, another is admitting we are all sinners, and without a true Savior, we deserve eternal punishment. This is clarified in Romans 6:23; “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.”
Finally, we have to call out to our Savior to forgive us, come into our hearts, and be our eternal Shepherd. Three verses that state this fact are Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, and Romans 10:13.
Combined, these three actions on our part make up the ABCs of Salvation (Romans 10:9-13). Admit we’re sinners; Believe Jesus is the true Son of God and His sacrifice was to conquer eternal death for all who Call on Him to be their eternal Savior. What’s hard for some is believing that we can personally do no works or deeds or pay for any part of our way into Heaven.
Jesus came here willingly to be our perfect sacrifice (John 10:18), and He could have stopped the process at any time. However, as John 10:16 states, He came not only for God’s chosen people, the Jews, but for all other sheep as well. This included every living, breathing soul of His day and everyone who would exist from then on. This includes you and me.
Our Heavenly Father is a perfect God and could accept no less than perfection as payment for our sin debts. He allowed the blood of animals and birds for a time until the permanent sin-free sacrifice could be made. Hebrews 10:4 is very specific; “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
Jesus is a part of the Triune Godhead, and as such, was a part of our creation. His actions on our part are given in Philippians 2:5-8; “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped; but emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Because of His gift to all mankind, is it any wonder that Philippians 2:9-11 follows this perfectly with; “Therefore, God has highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”?
When we realize Ephesians 2:8-9 is complete, we can finally receive and accept Jesus as our Shepherd and be a part of His precious flock of true believers. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast.”
For those who have received and accepted Jesus, as long as we are in these human forms, we will still slip and sin. Our Heavenly Father knows this and has made provisions for our redemption while we are in this fallible state. In 1 John 1:8-10, we read, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
This world is getting more evil each and every day. We are witnessing events that were spoken of in God’s word, telling of signs near the end of this age. Instead of the wasted anticipation spoken of using Ms. Simon’s song in a Catsup commercial, would it not be better to gain positive anticipation through the reading of our Father’s love letter to us?
Some will refuse to read and accept the true word of God, which is indicated in 1 Corinthians 1:18; “For the word of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” Those perishing souls are purposely accepting the lies of Satan, and Jesus knew there would be more of them than those who would follow Him (Matthew 7:13-14).
For someone who has never read the word of the Father in a true interpretation of the Bible, the best way to find one would be through a Christian bookstore. Sadly, there are false prophets who have taken to the pulpits of previously evangelical churches and are tweaking the word to fit their causes. Personally reading the true word for oneself can make a difference to each individual.
Romans 8:1 states, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” John 14:6 tells us, “And Jesus said to him; I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
First-time readers would do well to read the book of John and then Romans. After that, start with Matthew and read through Revelation. Just before starting to read each day, I have found it helps to ask the Father to provide more understanding of what He wants me to know. By doing this, I have found His word becomes clearer and more understandable.
Catchy tunes can be fun to hear, but true understanding is that our Father loves us completely and wants us to know His word is true. Titus 1:2 specifically states that God cannot lie.
No one can say the Rapture will be at a specific moment. Only our Heavenly Triune Godhead knows the exact day, hour, minute, and second. Rest assured, it will happen just as described in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.
Meanwhile, we sit in anticipation, and one day, we will suddenly be in the presence of the Savior. Please don’t miss His call to rise up to meet Him in the air. Your eternal home is your choice, and the Father will force no one to accept His Son. It will either be Heaven with Jesus or hell with Satan. There is no other choice available.
Once you take your last breath on this earth, your eternity is set for one of the two places mentioned above. If you end up in the line at the Great White Throne, there will be no forgiveness or pardons there. The purpose of that judgment is to determine the degree of each person’s eternal punishment.
If you end up at the Judgment Seat of Christ, you will gain or lose rewards for whatever you did on this earth, but the end result is still eternity in paradise with the Savior, just as He promised the thief on the cross.
Call out to Jesus today to forgive you and to be your eternal Savior. From that moment on, you, too, will be in Anticipation of Home with Him forever.
Maranatha! (Come, Lord Jesus!)
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