"Expectant Living - The King Is Coming"

Cornerstone Church February 24, 2013

“Expectant Living – The King is Coming”

Titus 2:11-14

“There is a story about a farmer who had a very close relationship with his dog, and when the old man died they took his body, put it in a coffin, and put it on the train. According to the story that I was told, this dog ran toward the train every single day when it came to the station. The dog was always hoping that the train that took his master away would eventually bring him back. We as God’s children should live each day with the same anticipation [expectantly looking for the LORD to return].”

Dr. Erwin Lutzer, pg. 33, “The King is Coming: Preparing to Meet Jesus”

“When [George Ladd] was a freshman in college, he fell in love with a girl who three and a half years later became his wife. He knew the wedding day was more than three years away. There were intervals when they could not be together for months at a time and there were indeed lonely hours; but they both knew that the day would come when they would be together as man and wife and when their love would find its full realization in the formation of a home. If anyone suggests that this affection, even though it would not be brought to its normal fruition for more than three years did not exercise a continual and deep influence upon my life, [they] do not know what love is. During those years I had no serious interest in any other. I had given my love to one, there was no room for another.”

Dr. George Eldon Ladd, pg. 146, “The Blessed Hope: A Biblical Study of the Second Advent and the Rapture”

It has been said:

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

Many of you here this morning can relate to missing someone that you deeply love:

* Miss someone taken by death:

* Your spouse

* A parent (father or mother)

* A Grandparent

* A child

* A sibling (brother or sister)

* Aunt or Uncle

* Niece or Nephew

* Miss the relationship of a wayward child who has gone their own way

* Miss a boyfriend, girl friend or fiancé

* Miss a spouse away on business or deployed by the military

* Miss a child away a college

* Miss a loved ones serving on a Missionary Field

* Miss a friend that has moved away or no longer connected to you

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:9-11 NIV

While the Disciples missed Jesus He had given them work to perform faithfully and passionately until He returned. It is called the Great Commission.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt. 28:19-20 NIV

They were not called to stay on the Mount of Olives looking up into the sky!

Doing God’s will is to flow out of a heart of love for God.

He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’’” Luke 10:27 NIV

He clearly means – All of us (mind, body, soul)

Because we love God we love what He loves!

God loves lost people!

For the past several weeks Pastor Jim has been teaching from the Book of Genesis.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Gen. 1:1 NIV

Before anything existed! God was!

Before time existed! God was!

Before people existed! God was!

A Good God created a beautiful and bountiful world and placed Adam and Eve in the midst of it to tend and care for the Garden of Eden.

Not only is there a beginning there is also an end. Eventually time on earth ends, eternity future begins (which has no end).

Eternity Future is where all is heading.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Rev. 22:13 NIV

Here is the final destination for those who have trusted Christ as their Savior: