Advent
My youngest son used to be a stickler for time. This was especially true if his grandparents were coming to visit, or we were going someplace he was excited about. He would sit by the door and ask incessantly whether things were going to occur the exact minute we had told him.
Now that he’s a teenager, it is more challenging to get him moving… especially in the morning!
Today marks the end of the Advent season. Advent simply means arrival, coming, or appearance. We celebrate Jesus’ first arrival at Christmas. We give gifts and remember Jesus was born to save us from our sins so that we could experience life in Him.
Jesus’ first arrival was prophesied hundreds of years before he was born in Bethlehem. He came to be with us, Immanuel, God in the flesh.
For 400 years, there had been silence from God; no clear prophetic word. God’s people were waiting. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5, ESV)
God sent His Son at the perfect time.
Historically, there were many things in place that paved the way for the news of salvation through Jesus, the Messiah, to spread like wildfire. The Peace of Rome meant there were no major wars. Plus, the Romans had built roads and a common language so that travel was safer and more efficient. There were synagogues in most major cities because the Diaspora (the dispersion of the Jewish people) had spread God’s people across the Greco-Roman world. This created receptive communities where the Apostles could connect and preach the Good News.
After Jesus’ crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection, Scripture clearly states that He will return (John 21:22-23, 1 Thessalonians 4:15).
“And while they were gazing into heaven as (Jesus) went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11, ESV)
Advent is a time to remember Jesus’ first appearing and anticipate His second appearing.
It’s been a long time since we were told Jesus is coming again. It can be easy to get complacent, doubt His return, or just lose the passion we once had. But, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, ESV).
Our son who used to be very concerned with timeliness also loved to dress up. His favorite thing to wear was his suit, which he called his ‘man-coat.’ One time when he was 6 years old, he came home from sledding and took off his snow gear, only to reveal that underneath he was wearing his three-piece suit! When I asked him about his choice of clothing, he replied in a very matter of fact manner, “I get dressed up when I’m excited.”
What a picture. Though his outer layer was functional and necessary, his inner layer reflected the excitement and wonder he was experiencing.
Dear Saints, what is your ‘man-coat’? Even if it’s often covered by your daily outerwear, how do you express to the Lord your wonder at who He is along with your excitement that He has come and is coming again?
One of the things I love about serving with Freedom in Christ is that I constantly get to see God do amazing work in peoples’ lives as they respond to Him in faith and repentance. Seeing God meet people and do what only He can do makes me excited to tell people about his first appearance to save. But it also makes me eager to see Him when He comes again.
If you’ve been a Christian for a while, the excitement, joy, and wonder of your salvation may have faded. But remember, no matter what your life looks like on the outside, in Christ, God has dressed you in clean robes of righteousness (see Isaiah 61:10, Zechariah 3 and Revelation 7:9). This Christmas, I encourage you to spend time renewing your passion by worshipping our Messiah, the Risen Savior, who has known us and loved us from before time began.
The worship of those mentioned in Revelation 7 caused the heavenly host to proclaim, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Rev 7:12, ESV) May our worship cause a similar response in the heavenly realms as we celebrate Jesus’ first arrival and await His second coming.
Merry Christmas!