Just wait!

Readings for March 4, 2015: Hebrews 11-13, Psalm 27.

“Just wait.”  Kids hate to hear those words.  At least mine do.  If I’m having a conversation with Ruth, they want to bud into the conversation and we have to say, “Just wait.  Not yet.”  They ask us for something from the store and we say, “yes,” but then they want it now. We ordered something for Jakob from Amazon and he kept wanting it to arrive before yesterday.  We kept saying, “Not yet.  Just wait.”  Kids hate to hear those words and so do we.  At least I do.  I don’t like to wait.  I don’t like someone to make a promise and then keep saying to me, “Not yet.  Just wait.”  We’re used to and we really like immediate gratification.  We like it now, not later.

In this closing section of Hebrews the writer really seems to drive us toward a godly faith, an expectant hope, and a patience which is content with God saying to us, “Not yet. Wait for it.”  He spends an entire chapter teaching us about the heroes of faith who were absolutely content with God saying, “Not yet.  The best is yet to come.”  He spends an entire chapter explaining how suffering in this world, hardships that we endure, are God’s way of teaching us. In a sense he says, “Don’t try to escape the hardship.  Strengthen your weak knees and endure every hardship as discipline.  God is treating you like a son and daughter that you might share in his holiness and enjoy what’s coming.”  “For we do not have here an enduring city, but are looking for the city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:14).

That’s hard though, isn’t it.  Especially when we face hardships here on earth.  Especially when the discipline is painful and our hearts are breaking.  Especially when we see that the threats against Christians are growing.  Especially when we see Christian martyrs dying for the faith in most brutal circumstances right before our eyes.  Especially when we want to God to do something for us and do it now.  Especially when we’re waiting for a promise to be fulfilled or a prayer to be answered.

In a small way the writer teaches us patience.  Just wait.  God’s way of working, God’s way of saving, God’s plan for me and the world isn’t like my plan.  Just wait for God to work and do what God will do. He has our best interests in mind.  He wants to save us for himself for eternity.  He wants us to eternally share in his holiness.  That’s why he disciplines us.  Discipline is no fun, but it is good for us (Hebrews 12:10-11).

In a big way (and this is true throughout the entire book), the writer is saying, “Wait for it…” as if there were something big right around the corner.  And there is!  We’re looking forward to a city with foundations, whose builder and architect is God!  We’re looking forward to an eternal home.  We’re looking forward to something better than anything on earth could ever be.  We’re looking forward to the city that is to come, our eternal life in God’s city, where God is at the center and we’re around his throne.

I know that it’s hard to wait.  But just wait.  You won’t be disappointed, not even a little bit.

Lord Jesus, grant me peace and joy in living my life here and now. It’s hard for me and I often chafe under your discipline.  I often grumble having to wait for your promises to be fulfilled, sometimes not even getting to see them fulfilled with my eyes. Grant me faith like Abraham to see the promise fulfilled with the eyes of my heart.  Grant me faith trust you.  Help me be content with your “not yet” because what I’m waiting for is so much better.  Amen.