During the little while, the interval of waiting until the Lord Jesus Christ comes for us, what does our Lord expect of us here? Revelation 22 gives the answer. Verse 7: “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this Book.” Thus He teaches us [first] that obedience is what He prizes in His own while they await His coming. Obedience, as we know from John 14, is proof of our love.
He then speaks again [secondly]: “Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (vs. 12). Here we are taught that He looks for faithfulness in His servants and, moreover, that He will recompense them accordingly (compare Luke 19:12-26).
Again, and for the last time, He speaks: “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly” (vs. 20). The response of John is, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus”—a response which should flow spontaneously from the heart of every saint. Thus we are taught [thirdly] that during the little while we wait, our affections are very precious to Him.
These, then, are the three things which He looks for from us now: obedience, faithfulness and affection.
“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name” (Mal. 3:16).
E. Dennett (adapted from a letter)