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Great Expectations

           Over the last few weeks, the world got its first close-up look at Pluto.  The pictures were incredible, but what really amazed me was the planning that went into making this happen.
            Planning for the “New Horizons” project began in August of 1989.  After several failed attempts to obtain funding, construction started in 2003.  In order for the spacecraft to make the 7.5 billion Km journey to Pluto, it had to be launched within a twenty-three day window in January 2006.  That timing was critical because it was the only time that Jupiter would be in the right place to allow its gravity to help slingshot the craft to the outer parts of the solar system. 
            When you are talking about space travel, nothing “just happens”.  Everything is the result of looking several years into the future.  The pictures that we saw were the result of twenty-six years of planning and anticipation.
            Anticipation is a powerful factor in any large undertaking, so it is not shocking that anticipation also plays a large role in spiritual growth.  Nothing “just happens” spiritually.  Every good thing comes from living with a long term view and looking for the blessings of God.  Without “anticipation” and “expectation”, our faith loses momentum.
            It was anticipation that made Abraham leave his home to seek the land that God was going to give him (Genesis 12).  Anticipation made the people follow Moses out of Egypt (Exodus 12).  At both the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and the Jordan River (Joshua 3), the Israelites waited in anticipation for God to act.  The anticipation of a Saviour formed the core of the message of the Old Testament prophets.  Jesus told his followers to live in anticipation of their future home (John 14).  On the other hand, James tells his readers that they were missing out on God’s blessings simply because they were not expecting anything to happen and therefore they neglected to ask (James 4:2).  The book of Revelation is all about looking to the future and what God will do.
            Anticipation fuels our faith because it reminds us that God is still at work and that he is doing something even when we cannot see it right now. 
            Keep looking to the future with expectation.  That is how you discover new worlds.

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