DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- EAGER WAITING

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – EAGER WAITING

"And as it is appointed for men to die once but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." (Hebrews 9:27-28)

The year was 1946. I was 4 years old at the time, and it was my father's birthday.

Now you have to understand that my father was a leap year baby. He was born on February 29, 1918, which meant that he technically had a birthday only every four years. So in 1946, he was celebrating his 7^thbirthday at age 28.

My mother had arranged for a surprise birthday party. I was entrusted with the inside information that the guests would arrive at 7:00 that evening, but I was explicitly told that I was not to breathe a word of this to my father.

The afternoon and evening dragged by. When Dad arrived home from the sawmill that evening, and we ate our supper, I was very careful not to say anything about his birthday.

But as the evening wore on, I became more and more excited. I had been taught how to tell time, and I was watching the hands of the grandfather clock move slowly toward the appoint hour. I was eagerly waiting with great anticipation for the guests to come. In my excitement, I blurted out, "Only ten minutes until they come." Dad was sitting nearby reading the newspaper. He heard me and said, "Who's coming?" The cat was out of the bag. I was so embarrassed. I had blown the cover. I had failed the trust that Mom had placed in me by including me in the surprise.

Oh, that I could be that excited about the return of the Lord Jesus, eagerly waiting for Him to appear the second time. The time is set on God's timetable. But unlike my father's birthday, I don't have to keep it a secret. A part of my eagerness is sharing the news. The more excited I become, the more I will talk about it.

We don't know the appointed hour, but we do know that Jesus is coming again. May we be eagerly awaiting His coming.

Love, Dad