This week in chapel, Dr. Mike Wittmer spoke from Hebrews 9:28 about a theology of waiting. He began by sharing that though waiting is subjective, it has an objective focus. For Christians, the object of our waiting is the return of Christ. The wait is hard because it humbles us and reminds us we are not in control. We wait for the salvation that Jesus will bring when He returns, but we do not determine that day. Therefore, waiting is a “restless anticipation.”
Dr. Wittmer also discussed that there are two kinds of waiting: we can wait passively (“I can’t do anything”) or we can wait actively (doing things in preparation for the coming), remembering that even our Kingdom work is merely our response to the coming of Jesus. Our actions reflect the object of our waiting.
If we are actively and consciously waiting for Jesus, then how we treat people, our purity and holiness, what we choose to watch, whether we make time to pray… all these things will be affected by the posture of waiting. This posture will also call us to address poor living conditions, seek justice, refuse to dehumanize anyone, fight racism and poverty, and so much more. If we believe that Jesus is coming back to bring salvation, it deeply matters what we do.
Waiting is the Christian posture, and it leads to Christlike action before the day of His return.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr. Michael Wittmer serves as at GRTS as Professor of Systematic & Historical Theology and Director of the Center for Christian Worldview. He has written six “theological books for the church,” including Becoming Worldly Saints, Heaven is a Place on Earth and Don’t Stop Believing. He also blogs regularly at mikewittmer.blog. Mike lives in Rockford, MI, with his wife Julie and three children.
