The Thessalonians had received this hope of the Lord’s return as a fundamental truth—they were converted to it. They “turned from idols to wait for His Son from heaven.” It was not a new strange doctrine among them, not a truth held only by a few who had more knowledge than others, but their common hope, and so prominently so, that we see at the close of this chapter it was the talk of the country round that here were a set of people waiting for the return of Jesus from heaven.
We see in this epistle, and indeed throughout the New Testament, how the truth of the Lord’s return is brought to bear on all subjects that concern us; whether for joy, comfort, warning, reproof, or encouragement, all is referred to His appearing.
The true power of living in this waiting for the Lord from heaven is in personal love to Him: nothing else will give it. Alas, that we should be so dull, cold, loveless with such a Saviour, such a head, hope, and home!