Strong Church: Waiting for His Son from Heaven (1 Thess 1:7–10)

According to the apostle Paul, a praise-worthy Church is not just characterized by their “turning away from idols” and their devotion “to serve the living and true God”, but also by their ”waiting for His Son from Heaven”. What does it mean to be “waiting for His Son from Heaven”? When Jesus comes back, we are all going to be see him right? Christians, non-Christians, believers, non-believers. In a general sense, everyone is ‘waiting’ for his return. So what does it mean for the Church to “wait”?

The Greek word employed for “wait” is a compound verb - ἀναμένειν. It comprises a preposition - ἀνα, which means up; and a verb - μένειν. The verb μένειν means to remain. To be in the same place. To be unmoved. This root verb appears a total of four times in Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians.

“remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:3)

“and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

“Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.” (2 Thessalonians 1:4)

“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5)

What do these passages tell us about ‘waiting’? Waiting for Jesus, is to remain faithful to Jesus. To wait for Jesus is to keep on believing that God has raised Jesus from the dead, and in so doing, confirmed that His Way is the True Way; His Way, is the Way of Life. The Way of Jesus is not easy to live. To live His Way, requires us to deny our Flesh, and walk in the Spirit. To live His way, often means, loving our enemies, forgiving those who hurt us, continuing on a path despite not seeing immediate reward. The Way of the Lord often comes with “persecutions and afflictions”.

Often times, we are filled with doubt about whether we can or should continue in the way of the LORD. Often times, we are tempted to turn from His Way, and follow another way. But a Strong Church, keeps their eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of their faith. A Strong Church, keeps her hope in our cross-bearing Christ. A Strong Church believes that Jesus IS the Way, and there is no other Way to abundant Life.

Let us learn to wait for His Son, who will return. May the LORD direct our hearts to the love of God, and to the steadfastness of Christ.