LONGING FOR HIS APPEARING
Read 2 Timothy 4:8.
The promise of a crown of righteousness was not for Paul only, not even for those like Paul, but for everyone who had longed for his appearing. A single word in the Greek original is translated “have longed for” in the NIV translation and “have loved” in the NAS. The original carries a slightly different flavor, however. The word means literally “having loved”. Looking at the thought as a whole, it literally says, “- and not only to me, but also to all the ones having loved the appearing of him.” In other words, those who when Christ appears on that day of judgment are overjoyed by his appearing, they will receive a crown of righteousnss. There is a sort of cause and effect relationship between our reaction at his appearing and the receiving of that crown. It seems that because of our strong favorable reaction to Jesus’ appearing at judgment, we will be rewarded.
Why is this important? First I would not go so far as to say that our reaction to Christ on the day of judgment will determine our destiny nor even our rewards. I would, however, say that how we react to Christ will be a reflection of what we thought of Him in this life. The ones who served Christ and suffered for Him, the ones who fought the good fight and ran the race well, these will be the ones who will love His appearing. That is perhaps why the NIV and other translations translate this passage as “all who have longed for Christ’s appearing.” Our thoughts of Christ now are directly connected to our reaction to Him later.
Again, why is this important? Ask yourself that question. How do you want to react at the appearing of Christ?