Why do American Christians not long for the Lord's coming as Paul did?
American believers often do not long for the Lord’s coming as Paul did because life in America is materially comfortable; they enjoy life so fully that they do not hanker for it the way the suffering apostle did. Paul endured sickness and increasing persecution, making him say it was better to be absent from the body and present with the Lord.
Les teaches that American Christians have it so good and enjoy life to such a full extent that they really don’t hanker for the Lord’s coming like the Apostle did. He contrasts Haitian Christians, whose only hope was that the Lord would come because they would never get out of their poverty any other way. But Paul was suffering, had sickness nigh unto death, and persecution was increasing, so no wonder he could say it is so much better to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Even as good as Americans have it, what is up there is far, far better, so we should long for it too.
Why don't American Christians long for the Lord's coming as much as the Apostle did?
American believers enjoy such good lives and material comfort that they do not intensely yearn for Christ's return as the Apostle did. He suffered sickness near death and increasing persecution, so he longed to be absent from the body and present with the Lord.
Why do Christians in America not long for Christ's return the way the Apostle Paul did?
American believers often do not intensely long for Christ's return because life in America is comfortable and enjoyable, while the Apostle Paul suffered sickness and increasing persecution. He saw being absent from the body and present with the Lord as far better, though what awaits believers is far better still.