Skip to content
logo horizontal
logo tree only
logo tree only
  • about
      • About us
        • Vision Generic_YEG Feature art
      • Times & Directions
        • Watch us online 2023 169hd web
      • Staff & Leadership
        • Team Web Rotator
      • Worship
        • Worship-arts-169HD-sm2
      • Membership
        • Fall 2025 Class NO QR
      • Baptism
        • Interested in Baptism 169HD
      • Communion
        • Communion 169HD
      • Baby Dedication
        • Baby dedication2 169HD
      • New Believers
        • Care,Of,New,Life,-,Watering,Young,Plant,-,Vintage
      • Meet With A Pastor
        • Living,Room,With,Two,Yellow,Armchair,mockup,Concrete,Wall.3d,Rendering
      • Sermon Series
        • RTR Website 16×9
        • Up Next:
  • ministries
      • Family
        • Happy,Family,In,The,Park,Evening,Light.,The,Lights,Of
      • Kids
        • MBC KIDS Postcard 169HD
      • Teens
        • admin-ajax-rgb
        • Fresh wave Podcast Logo Full
      • Adults
        • small groups 2017 HD16
        • Adult-Sunday-School 2018 169HD
        • Womens min winter 2024
        • Mens Ministries 2018 169HD
        • Young Adult 2020 16.9HD generic no dates
        • Master_senior 3rd_Fri_ lunch slide 16.9HD
        • Men,Supporting,Men,,Introduction,To,A,Men’s,Therapy,Group
      • Missions
        • Missions Logo new page2 169HD
        • Senegal Missions banner 169HD 2021
        • 1st Choice 169HD
        • City Relief 16.9
        • market Street Mission 169HD
        • Feedng Hands
      • Care
        • Care team 2015 169hd
      • Internships
        • Internships
      • Underground Sessions
        • Underground Sess. Signage
      • Stephen Ministry
        • Stephen Ministry 2017 169HD
      • Little Footprints Learning Center
        • LFLC Postcard 2017 V2
  • media
      • Sunday Worship Playlist & Sermon Outline
        • Worship arts logo copy
      • Digital Ministry
        • Podcasts Feature GRaphic2
        • Move to YT Livestream MBC UNHINDERED noDate-169 copy
      • Pastor’s Table Blog
        • RTR PTB
      • Behind the Pulpit
        • Behind the Pulpit weekly YouTube 169 V2 Rach. no text
      • Fresh Wave
        • Fresh wave Podcast Logo Full
      • Wednesdays in the Word
        • Weds in the Word v1
      • Sermon Archive
        • Sermon Archive Banner
      • Right Now Media
        • church_slide_1
      • Merch Store
        • MBC Merch store 169 reg copy
  • events
  • prayer
      • Praise & Prayer Weekly Update
        • Prayer Web 169hd
      • Men and Women’s Prayer Room
        • ladies and mens prayer graphic copy
  • give
      • Year-End Giving for 2025
        • 2025 Giving
      • MBC Giving
        • MBC Giving Slides_template 10 digit 2021b
      • Serving
        • Ministry Page feature graphic 169
  • connect
      • Getting Connected
        • Newsletter,Email,Icon,Isolated,On,Special,Blue,Banner,Background,Abstract
      • The Bridge
        • Bridge Sep 28 2025 V2
      • Shared Interest Groups
        • Shared Interest Groups 169
      • Share your Gifts
        • Serving page alt With Webpage URL 169
      • Finance Team
        • Finance Team 169
      • Safety & Security Team
        • Safety&Security 16×9 V1
      • Buildings & Grounds Team
        • Buildings & Grounds Team 16×9 V3
      • Hospitality Team
        • Hospitality Team 16×9 FINAL
  • log in
PrevPrevious EntryCultivating a Spiritual Legacy
Next EntryWhy is Love so Important?Next

BACK TO THE PASTOR’S TABLE

How Jesus’ Return Can Give You Hope

Listen to this article

 

I want to speak for a moment about the passing of Pastor Tim Keller. Many of you know he has had a great influence on both Pastor Dave and myself as it relates to preaching and ministry. Tim had so many great quotes and insights I see floating around Facebook and the like, but the thing I have found most impactful about Tim Keller was the way he lived his life. Person after person who knew him well would simply say, “Tim Keller was the real deal. He really lived what he preached. He loved Jesus. He encouraged me—he saw me when no one else did.”

There is an account of FaceBook called, “The Daily Keller.” The guy who runs the account puts up Tim Keller quotes everyday. When Tim passed, the account holder (also named Tim), made a post about the first time he met Tim Keller at a conference. He spoke with him for a few moments, but right before Keller had to go on stage, the younger Tim who runs Daily Keller said this, “Thank you for making Jesus beautiful.” Tim Keller paused, choked back some tears, and simply said, “That’s the point.”

Tim Keller offered, not just words, but a pattern to follow in life and in death. He lived, and passed, with the ENDGAME in mind. What will people say about you? Are you making Jesus beautiful in how you live? So, pursue the right prize, choose the right pattern, but the last thing is that hard part which is to Stay at the right post.

 

Stay at the Right POST (Philippians 3:20-21)

The right post is where you are RIGHT NOW! God has placed you here, with unique circumstances and abilities to build his kingdom. He wants you to bring heaven to earth in all your spheres of influence. Paul starts by reminding us who we are in verse 20:

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,” (Philippians 3:20, NIV)

We are citizens of heaven. This phrase came up back in chapter 1. You may remember that Pastor Dave highlight the Greek word, “Politeuma,” which is used for citizens/citizenship. It’s where we get our English word for politics.

Speaking of politics, you have heard there is an election happening in 2024. Things are heating up and over the next 18 months, there will be plenty of opportunities to get distracted by the prize. There will be plenty of opportunities for division to creep into the church. I think Paul would say to the American church today, “don’t let earthly politics divide the church.” That does not mean it is unimportant. There are major issues to debate; issues that should be debated in grace. We should seek to live out our Christian convictions in a way that blesses the world. We must always remember that we ultimately serve a better king and a better kingdom … and in the end everything will be alright. Our orders ultimately come from the heavenly throne and not an earthly one.

 

Where do you orders come from, church?

This image of citizenship in Philippians was a powerful one. The Philippians were proud of their Roman citizenship. But it went even deeper. You see, Philippi was an OUTPOST of the Roman empire. Paul was writing to them from Rome, the capitol. So they regularly awaited news from the capitol on how to conduct their business. So when Paul says that they are citizens of heaven, he is cutting right to their hearts and ours. He is reminding them that no matter how proud you are of your earthly citizenship that your heavenly one matters more.

And what does Paul say? Live as citizens of HEAVEN. How?

 

1. Practice COUNTERCULTURAL Patience.

Notice he says we are waiting for Jesus to return. The word for savior is the Greek word SOTER. In this context it often referred to the emperor, Caesar. Paul was turning the concept on its head right here the real SOTER was Jesus Christ. We patiently and hopefully wait for his second coming. This means that, even if the world is falling apart, we can live with hope because Jesus will win in the end. How do we live with hope? We have to stay at our outpost here on earth and daily seek instructions from our True King. We are holding the line until our king comes with his angel armies to remake this world.

At any point in life, there can be a tendency to abandon our posts because we are impatient. God doesn’t answer as quickly as we think he should. Staying at out post requires patience! As we practice this patience, we need to…

 

2. Feel the Upward Pull.

Look at verse 21:

“Who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:21, NIV)

Our bodies will be transformed. So many of the distractions we face today relate to the downward pull of our bodies. We are drawn to the things of this world. And, yes, God does bless us with many things in this life, but they will all fade away. All that will be left is the eternal.

When Jesus, our SOTER, returns the trumpet will sound and we will be raised, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15, we will be changed and transformed to receive a glorious eternal body. It will be beyond what we can ever imagine! That is the end of history. That is the final end to the arc of life and it is just the beginning.

 

Finishing Well

Church, do you know what this means? It means that no matter what life throws at us, we will get through it. God is in control. You did not get in that school? It’s going to be okay. You got passed over for that job? It’s going to be okay. You got diagnosed with cancer? As hard as it is to believe, in the end it is going to be okay. Your child is born with special needs? It’s going to be okay! You know why? Because the SOTER is coming, Jesus is coming, we don’t know exactly when, but he is coming with power and one day he will bring EVERYTHING under his control. Until that time, Christian, stay at your post. You may be discouraged, but like Dr. William Leslie, you may never know how God is using your right now!

Christians should never run around like the sky is falling, because we await our SOTER from heaven. Friends are you living today like he Savior is coming back soon?! Christian, stay at your post!

Picture of Bob Erbig

Bob Erbig

Bob Erbig serves as Lead Pastor: Preaching, Family Life and Mission at Millington Baptist Church in Basking Ridge, NJ. He is a graduate of Eastern University and Denver Theological Seminary. He and his wife Amanda enjoy one daughter.
PrevPrevious EntryCultivating a Spiritual Legacy
Next EntryWhy is Love so Important?Next

BACK TO THE PASTOR’S TABLE

Like what you see? Sign up to receive notifications from The Pastor's Table!
Loading
Like what you see? Sign up to receive notifications from The Pastor's Table!
Loading

Recent Entries

Loading...

From Gloom to Glory (Isa. 9:1-7)

October 7, 2025
/
Bob Erbig
A Light in the Darkness “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” — Isaiah 9:6 If you’ve ever been in deep...
Read More

God With Us: The Near and Far Fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14

September 29, 2025
/
Dave Hentschel
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) Isaiah 7:14 is one of the most famous prophecies in all of Scripture, quoted directly in Matthew’s Gospel as fulfilled in the birth of...
Read More

The God of Dangerous Beauty

September 24, 2025
/
Bob Erbig
Dangerous Beauty: Encountering God’s Holiness Isaiah 6 is one of those passages many of us know well. We’ve heard it in sermons, sung parts of it in worship songs, and maybe even memorized a few verses. But let me challenge you—don’t let the familiarity dull your sense of awe. This...
Read More

The Invitation of Grace

September 16, 2025
/
Dave Hentschel
A devotional on Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." (Isa 1:18, ESV) Isaiah 1 opens with a strong rebuke—God’s people have...
Read More

The View from the Mountaintop: Introduction to the book of Isaiah

September 8, 2025
/
Dave Hentschel
The View from the Mountaintop (Introduction to the book of Isaiah) Climbing a mountain takes effort, but it also gives you a breathtaking view. That’s what the prophet Isaiah offers us: a higher perspective on God, ourselves, and the world. When we open his book, we’re not just reading ancient...
Read More

Fight The Good Fight (1 Timothy 6:11-16)

July 14, 2025
/
Bob Erbig
The Spiritual Battle for a Healthy Church This was an important series for our church as we approach our 175th Anniversary next year. For a church to last 175 years, the principals in 1 Timothy must be present. We’ve learned how to combat false teaching, how to make the Gospel...
Read More
1 2 … 32 Next »

From Gloom to Glory (Isa. 9:1-7)

A Light in the Darkness “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” — Isaiah 9:6 If you’ve ever been in deep darkness, you know how desperately

Read More
Bob Erbig October 7, 2025

God With Us: The Near and Far Fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) Isaiah 7:14 is one of the most famous prophecies in all of Scripture, quoted directly in Matthew’s Gospel as fulfilled in the birth of Christ. But like many Old

Read More
Dave Hentschel September 29, 2025

The God of Dangerous Beauty

Dangerous Beauty: Encountering God’s Holiness Isaiah 6 is one of those passages many of us know well. We’ve heard it in sermons, sung parts of it in worship songs, and maybe even memorized a few verses. But let me challenge you—don’t let the familiarity dull your sense of awe. This chapter is meant to shake

Read More
Bob Erbig September 24, 2025
Page1 Page2 Page3 Page4 Page5
  • www.millingtonbaptist.org
  • mbc@millingtonbaptist.org
  • /millingtonchurch
  • /MBCNewJersey
  • www.millingtonbaptist.org
  • mbc@millingtonbaptist.org
  • facebook.com/millingtonchurch
  • twitter.com/MBCNewJersey
  • 520 King George Road | Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 | 908-647-0594
  • about
    • Back
    • About us
      • Back
      • Back
    • Times & Directions
      • Back
      • Back
    • Staff & Leadership
      • Back
      • Back
    • Worship
      • Back
      • Back
    • Membership
      • Back
      • Back
    • Baptism
      • Back
      • Back
    • Communion
      • Back
      • Communion
      • Back
    • Baby Dedication
      • Back
      • Baby Dedications
      • Back
    • New Believers
      • Back
      • New Believers
      • Back
    • Meet With A Pastor
      • Back
      • Meet With A Pastor
      • Back
    • Sermon Series
      • Back
      • Back
    • Back
  • ministries
    • Back
    • Family
      • Back
      • Family Ministries
      • Back
    • Kids
      • Back
      • MBC Kids
      • Back
    • Teens
      • Back
      • Teens
      • The Fresh Wave Podcast
      • Back
    • Adults
      • Back
      • Small Groups
      • Adult Education
      • Women
      • Men
      • Young Adults
      • Senior Luncheon
      • Radical Mentoring
      • Back
    • Missions
      • Back
      • MBC Missions
      • Senegal
      • First Choice
      • City Relief
      • Market Street Mission
      • Feeding Hands
      • Back
    • Care
      • Back
      • Back
    • Internships
      • Back
      • Internships
      • Back
    • Underground Sessions
      • Back
      • Underground Sessions
      • Back
    • Stephen Ministry
      • Back
      • Back
    • Little Footprints Learning Center
      • Back
      • Back
    • Back
  • media
    • Back
    • Sunday Worship Playlist & Sermon Outline
      • Back
      • Sunday Worship Playlist & Sermon Outline
      • Back
    • Digital Ministry
      • Back
      • Digital Ministry
      • Livestream
      • Back
    • Pastor’s Table Blog
      • Back
      • Pastor’s Table Blog
      • Back
    • Behind the Pulpit
      • Back
      • Updates & Connection Opportunities
      • Back
    • Fresh Wave
      • Back
      • The Fresh Wave Podcast
      • Back
    • Wednesdays in the Word
      • Back
      • Wednesdays in the Word
      • Back
    • Sermon Archive
      • Back
      • Sermon Archive
      • Back
    • Right Now Media
      • Back
      • Right Now Media
      • Back
    • Merch Store
      • Back
      • Merch Store
      • Back
    • Back
  • events
  • prayer
    • Back
    • Praise & Prayer Weekly Update
      • Back
      • Praise & Prayer Weekly Update
      • Back
    • Men and Women’s Prayer Room
      • Back
      • Men and Women’s Prayer Room
      • Back
    • Back
  • give
    • Back
    • Year-End Giving for 2025
      • Back
      • Year-End Giving for 2025
      • Back
    • MBC Giving
      • Back
      • give
      • Back
    • Serving
      • Back
      • Share your Gifts
      • Back
    • Back
  • connect
    • Back
    • Getting Connected
      • Back
      • getting connected
      • Back
    • The Bridge
      • Back
      • The Bridge – September 28th, 2025
      • Back
    • Shared Interest Groups
      • Back
      • Shared Interest Groups
      • Back
    • Share your Gifts
      • Back
      • Share your Gifts
      • Back
    • Finance Team
      • Back
      • MBC Finance Team
      • Back
    • Safety & Security Team
      • Back
      • MBC Safety & Security Team
      • Back
    • Buildings & Grounds Team
      • Back
      • MBC Buildings & Grounds Team
      • Back
    • Hospitality Team
      • Back
      • MBC Hospitality Team
      • Back
    • Back
  • log in