“One Thing” (5)—Expectation - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.
Psalm 27:4 NKJV

“One Thing” (5)—Expectation
All of the “one things” we have looked at—our salvation (one thing you lack), assurance (one thing I know), communion (one thing is needed), and service (one thing I do)—they each lead up to the joyful expectation of being with the Lord Jesus for eternity. “Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12). “When He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 Jn. 3:2). In Titus 2:13, the Rapture is called the blessed hope of the believer. It won’t be long now! “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry” (Heb. 10:37). First Corinthians 15:50–56 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 tell us that the dead in Christ will be raised at His coming, and we who are alive will be changed, receiving glorified resurrection bodies. Together we will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.

King David’s desire and expectation was to dwell in the house of the Lord. Paul also keenly felt the desire to be with his Savior when he wrote, “I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Phil. 1:23). What grace that the Lord Jesus Himself shares this desire. He prayed, “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me” (Jn. 17:24).

Are we excited about the Lord’s coming? Are we living in the expectation that He could come at any moment? If we are, it will have a sanctifying effect on our lives (Col. 3:1–4; Tit. 2:11–13; 1 Jn. 3:3). All of the things of time and earth will fade away as our bridal affections are rekindled.

-- Tim Bouter