A young private sought permission from his Commanding Officer to leave camp the following weekend.  “You see,” he explained, “my wife’s expecting.”

 
“Oh…” said the Officer, “I understand.  Go ahead and tell your wife that I wish her luck.”

 
The following week the same soldier was back again with the same explanation: “My wife’s expecting.”

The Officer looked surprised.  “Still expecting?” he said, “Well, well, my boy, you must be pretty bothered.  Of course you can have the week-end off.”

When the same soldier appeared again the third week, however, the Officer lost his temper.  “Don’t tell me your wife is still expecting!”he bellowed.

“Yes sir!” said the soldier resolutely, “She’s still expecting.”

“What in the world is she expecting?” cried the Officer.

“Me,” said the soldier simply.

Christians are a people who live in expectation.  We’re expecting that someday all the wrongs of this world will be brought to justice.  We’re expecting that the sufferings of this life will someday be replaced by joys beyond our imagination.  But, most of all, we’re expecting our Lord to return for us and we are anxious for that day to come.  Paul seems to indicate that all of creation is earnestly awaiting the same thing (Rom. 8:19).

“Now when [Jesus] had spoken these things, while [the apostles] watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’ ” (Acts 1:9-11)

Are you expecting? — Alan Smith