There’s a great song—Great Expectations. The lyrics include:
We’ve been invited with the Son
And we’ve been invited to come and Believe the unbelievable
Receive the inconceivable
And see beyond our wildest imagination
Lord, we come with great expectations.
Wow. Beyond our wildest imagination.
Where can we find that!!!????
Inexpressible joy?
Well, it’s real. I’ve experienced it.
It’s presented throughout the Bible. Even though surrounded by trials and tragedy, we find inexpressible joy. Joy is different (and better) that happiness. Happiness is shallow. Joy dwells deep with us as a component of our worship of God.
1 Peter tells us about it.
In 1 Peter 1:2 we read “May God give you more and more grace and peace. That’s like the Olive Garden’s endless salad bowl or another all you can eat food bar.
1 Peter 1:1-9
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
Again, wow.
1 Peter 1:12 ends with “It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.”
That’s cool.
I look forward to meeting the angels, seeing their worship in action. Hearing God send them to guard us and guide us. That alone is a great expectation. But it’s not just an expectation. It’s real. Sign me up!
Godspeed
1 Peter-1:6-8
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter -1:12
They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.
Great Expectations
Steven Curtis Chapman
The morning finds me at heavens door
A place I’ve been so many times before
Familiar thoughts and phrases that I know so well
But dare I go where I don’t understand
And do I dare remember where I am
I stand before the great eternal throne
The one that God Himself is seated on
And I, I’ve been invited as a son
Oh I, I’ve been invited to come and
Believe the unbelievable
Receive the inconceivable
And see beyond my wildest imagination
Lord, I come with great expectations
So wake the hope that slumbers in my soul
Stir the fire inside and make it glow
I’m trustin’ in a love that has no end
The Savior of this world has called me friend
And I, I’ve been invited with the Son
Oh I, I’ve been invited to come and
We’ve been invited with the Son
And we’ve been invited to come and
Believe the unbelievable
Receive the inconceivable
And see beyond our wildest imagination
Lord, we come with great expectations.
God Speaks 