“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11-14)

One of our challenges in life is to wait. We always seem to be waiting on something, for something, in need of something, because of something and if not something, then someone. Even as we live our lives as followers of Jesus Christ, we are waiting. Paul would tell Titus, “while we wait for the blessed hope.” (Titus 2:13) We are to live our lives now in anticipation of the blessed hope which God has waiting for us. As we wait, God is at work in our lives and has us at work following Him. I once heard a speaker say, “as you wait on God, he will wear you out.” There is much happening in our lives as we wait.

It begins as we learn from God. One of the activities of the Holy Spirit as He dwells in our lives is to teach us. “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) All the time we dwell here in this life, we are to be learning the ways of God. Our lessons begin with learning to say no to temptation. Jesus teaches us to pray and seek God’s guidance in the Lord’s Prayer. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13) We seek His guidance and strength to say no. When we say no to temptation, we learn to say yes to living a godly life as we learn to follow Jesus in the righteousness which He gives to us. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) When we learn His righteousness, we also learn to love as He loved. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” (John 15:12-13) Putting into practice what God is teaching us will keep us busy all our lives.

While we are busy waiting, we are looking for our blessed hope. Jesus said, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2b-3) While we are faithfully following and learning from Jesus now, we are also in anticipation of our hope in what God is preparing. What we have now is temporary, what He is preparing is eternal. Paul would give us a glimpse of what is to come. “For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:53-57) As we walk with God, let us be busy and faithful as we wait for what God is preparing for us.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block