Advent Glimpses of our Future
As disciples of Christ, we all long to hear, “Well done, my good servant!” (Luke 19:17). We would want to say with Paul that we “have fought a good fight” and “finished our course”. We all want to hear our King’s approval. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34 ESV). What we do now is preparatory for what will follow. Our faithfulness has a connection to our future. “Well done” means something. There is a “crown of righteousness” for the faithful who loved their Lord and His presence with them and longed for His appearing.
“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (KJV)
