I think that we must note that there is a vast difference between the doctrine of Christ’s coming and the hope of His coming. It surely is possible to hold the doctrine without feeling a trace of the blessed hope. Indeed there are multitudes of Christians today who hold the doctrine-but what I have tried to deal with here is the overwhelming sense of anticipation that lifts the life upward to a new plane and fills the heart with rapturous optimism. It is my opinion that this is largely lacking among us now. (A.W.Tozer)

Can you see what Tozer is getting at? He says there is a vast difference, a chasm, between holding to the doctrine of Christ’s return and actually having a blessed hope within you of His soon coming. For the last ten years or so I have met saints from all over the world whom the Holy Spirit has impressed upon their hearts that Christ is coming back very soon and to get ready. These saints come from every possible background, from every tribe and tongue and every nation. This word from the Holy Spirit has indeed lifted their lives upward to a new plane and filled their hearts with a rapturous optimism and anticipation. This word from the Lord has not been a message of doom and gloom to them, in fact the exact opposite, they revel in the blessed hope.

I would argue that you could easily extend this message to every area of who we are in Christ. Do you have such a blessed hope, a holy optimism? When you pray either in private or in a public prayer meetings, do you actually believe you are praying to God? I know that sounds like a strange question but can I suggest that there is a world of difference between believing the doctrine that God hears your prayer and actually believing that you are standing before His throne and talking directly to God. One is a standard tradition and belief, the other is a dynamic life changing reality. What about when you gather together on a Sunday morning? Do you actually believe as you make your way to the meeting place that you are going to encounter God? It is my opinion that most do not. There is a dynamic life changing power in Godly expectancy, holding to a “Blessed hope,” as opposed to merely holding to a doctrine. It is one thing to believe something in the head while at the same time your heart is far from the reality of what you believe.

The cynic says something like “well folks have always believed that.” The saint responds to what the Holy Spirit is showing them. Has the Holy Spirit laid on your heart that the Lord is coming back very soon, even in your own lifetime? Has He shown you something of what is to come? It would not be possible to live life as it has always been lived if we actually lived in the blessed reality of this hope. There would be a fierce urgency in our spirits, a dynamic rapturous optimism would take a hold of us. A different perspective would take hold of who we are. We would more clearly see what is important in life and by that same token, what is not. We would not get easily caught up in the affairs of this world if we truly believed in the blessed hope of His soon coming.

The spirit of expectancy animated the early church and much of the church for the following 2000 years. How can we arouse that same joyful spirit of expectation today? Can we lecture those who do not have it, can a sermon convince those who are lacking it? I do not believe so, it must come from revelation. The Holy Spirit must reveal this to the hearts of those who are still teachable. There can be nothing done for the searing cynic, the sophisticated modern mind. But, to the child-like unsophisticated open heart, the Lord can clearly show them that He is at the door, that the birth-pangs of His coming have begun and that He is actually coming back as He said He would. They will have ears to hear the blowing of the trumpet, they will hear the midnight call that cries out “He approaches, awake, arise from your slumbers you who sleep and Christ will give you light in the midst of a great darkness.” You will hear that voice say ” Do not walk as fools but as one who is wise, redeem the time that is left wisely, for the days are evil and the darkness, the gross darkness is at the door.” He will continue and say ” despite the coming darkness there is a greater coming light, the light of the soon return of your Lord, coming back just as He left, with all His glory in the sky. Hold fast and stand in the power of His might and you will overcome the darkness.”