earth is heaven’s waiting room, or more accurately eternity’s waiting room and we are all in it.  We are all waiting.  “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.  . . .  in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.  . . .  we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”  (Romans 8:19-23)

Since I am waiting, along with the rest of creation, for Christ’s return, that time when He will make all things new and right; I feel like I need to be prepared to meet my Maker. I want to wait well, to get really good at it.  why? because my eternal destiny depends on the decisions I make in this waiting room we call earth.

I used to think of waiting as being idle, but now I realize waiting can be whatever I choose to make of it.  I want my time in this waiting room to be purposeful, productive preparation for what is to come.  When my number or name is finally called, I want to be ready, fully prepared.

I want to hear the words “well done, good and faithful servant” not “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness”.  To that end I take to heart Paul’s advice to Timothy when he said, “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  (2 Timothy 2:15)

What better way to spend my “waiting” time here than to be about my Heavenly Father’s business?  “And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  (Micah 6:8)  “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”  (James 1:27)

What better way to spend my time here, than to spend it getting to know my Creator?  “Be still, and know that I am God;”  (Psalm 46:10)  “Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  (Matthew 11:29)

Jesus modeled this “preparing while waiting” as He lived His life here on earth, preparing Himself and His disciples for His death and resurrection in everything He did.  As a young boy Jesus said to His parents, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”  (Luke 2:49)

That’s how I will spend my “waiting room” time –  being about my Heavenly Father’s business.

sincerely,     Grace Day