Anne Graham Lotz - Expecting to See Jesus: A Wake-Up Call for Gods People

I loved this book! I cant say that about every book Im asked to consider endorsing, but Expecting to See Jesus captured my heart in a way I hadnt expected. As soon as its released, Im going to buy a copy for everyone on our ministrys board and staff.

What captured me, in part, was Annes heart. What comes through on page after page is Annes genuine passion to see her Savior face-to-face, and her strong and growing sense that the Lord will return in her lifetime. To her credit, Anne is not interested in end-times prophecy as an intellectual exercise. She doesnt have a sensationalistic agenda. Shes rightly focused on the big picture. She handles the Scriptures faithfully and carefully. She knows it matters, and why it matters, and the more she sees Bible prophecy coming to pass in her lifetime from the rebirth of Israel and the return of the Jewish people to the Holy Land, to wars, rumors of wars, the rise of lawlessness and apostasy the more she wants to be ready to meet Jesus.

What I have also come to love about Anne is that she is a can do Christian. Shes very practical about all this. She knows that this glorious day of Christs return is rapidly approaching, and it motivates her to live differently. To pray differently. To schedule her time differently. To spend her money differently. She wants to be found faithful on that day. Thats why shes so fearless about preaching the gospel, teaching the Word, equipping the saints, and winsomely engaging anyone and everyone who will listen to the biblical truth about our times. May her tribe increase!

But theres more. What also captured my heart about this book is that Anne is candid and transparent about the struggles in her own life. She doesnt mince words, and she doesnt sweep her own challenges under the rug. She writes about how much she wants and needs a fresh revival of the Holy Spirit in her life. She writes about times she has gotten tired and the fire inside her began to dim. Then she shares how the Lord has helped her through those times. I readily identified with so many of her stories. I love Jesus, but I want to love Him more. Ive committed my life to abiding in Him and bearing fruit that will last, but I want to draw nearer. Ive gotten tired, and needed the Lord to pick me up and give me new strength. Ive gotten distracted from whats important, and needed a course correction. And now, more than ever, with all thats happening in the world, I want to see Jesus face-to-face. I want to learn to better hear my Shepherds voice. I want to learn how to respond faster and more faithfully when He gives me difficult assignments. And, like Anne, I long for the church here at home and around the world to wake up, to stand up, to step up and be ready to see Christ Jesus by living holy and living bold.

As I read through Annes book, I found myself thinking again and again of 1 John 2:28: Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming (NASB). What a gentle way the beloved apostle put it, but in that tenderness, we dare not miss his point. Jesus is coming for us soon. Are you ready? If Christ suddenly, unexpectedly took you home today, tomorrow, next week, are you ready to see Him? Are you eager and expectant to see Him? Will you be confident and clean when you see Him in person? Or will you be found doing something, reading something, listening to something, watching something, spending time with something or someone for which you will be ashamed when He takes you home?

These are important questions in these challenging times. My wife, Lynn, and I have come to so appreciate Anne Graham Lotz for her wisdom and her courage and her deep love of Jesus. We were glad to count her a friend before we read this book. Now we feel we know her even better and are blessed because of it. She is a kindred spirit and a fellow traveler on the road to heaven. May you find her and her book as much of a blessing as we have.

JOEL C. ROSENBERG
Washington, D.C.
April 2011