Nuggets from An Urgent Call to a Serious Faith—Having the Right Perspective

Paul cultivated among all of the believers in his day the eager expectancy that this appearing would take place very soon. In so doing he attempted, like his Lord, to wean them from this earth to live as those who were already citizens of heaven. To the Philippians he wrote: “For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Philippians:3:20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
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There are those who argue that it is foolish to think of Christ returning today, since the apostles vainly expected that great event in their time. On the contrary, they did not—yet they urged the Christians of their day to remain expectant. The apostle Paul unquestionably knew that this longed-for event would not occur during his own lifetime, which would be cut short by Roman execution. He told Timothy, “The time of my departure [by death] is at hand” (2 Timothy:4:6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
See All...). And he told the Ephesian elders, “after my departing [in death] shall grievous wolves enter in among you…” (Acts:20:29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
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Peter also had the same conviction, as his writings prove. He, too, spoke of his impending death. “Knowing that shortly I must put off this tabernacle [of flesh and blood]…I will endeavor [through his written epistles] that yet may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance” (2 Peter:1:14Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
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The apostles knew that they were “appointed to death…a spectacle unto the world” (1 Corinthians:4:9For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
See All...). Only the apostle John, of whom the Lord had said, “If I will that he tarry till I come…” (John:21:22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
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This same apostle John tells us that the earnest expectation of Christ’s imminent appearing, and our deliverance from sin and death by transformation into glorious bodies like His, will inevitably have a powerful and purifying effect in every area of our lives. He wrote:

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John:3:2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
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