Advent
The first promise of hope after the fall, “Her offspring will bruise your head.” Eve, sure her firstborn was the promise fulfilled … but Cain killed Abel, her heart and hopes dashed, crushed . . .
But God . . .
Like bread crumbs along the path more hints, clues, promises sprinkled. Deliverers, kings, prophets but none the Messiah.
Though hope was deferred waiting never ceased, watching endured.
On the darkest of nights, gathered crumbs became the Bread of Life sent incognito that first Advent, coalesced clues few knew; even raising the dead fed the narrative until . . . pooling blood beneath a cross killed. all. waiting. hope.
He was.
First century . . . twenty-first century gaps in the story filled explained by the gospel still the drumbeat continues wait, watch, be alert . . . keep Your lamp burning.
Christianity lives in Advent, today the “Time Between”[i] this present bookended by Christmas Day and That Day.
We His temples commissioned to go into all the world, to teach, make disciples, bring His kingdom to earth as it is in heaven; to live cruciform lives, shaped by His transforming dwelling in us clay forms shining forth His beauty.
He is.
God’s promises are sure it is impossible for Him to lie; therefore His second Advent. Will. Dawn. Christ will return to judge, rule, and reign victoriously all will recognize Him nothing will be concealed.
Sadly the church at large has fallen into lethargy; the rapture didn’t happen decades ago may not happen some say disillusionment has led to complacency to scoffing as foretold by Peter. Where is the promise of His coming? All things continue as they have since creation.
Be watchful, be ready, be alert, You repeated to Your disciples over and over more breadcrumbs timed to Your certain steady drumbeat, every word, every jot and tittle will be fulfilled, You declared with power and great authority!
He is to come!
Every step of faith needs anticipation, expectation, hope to be genuine faith; counting the days, looking ahead imagining what is yet to be, we are redeemed for the here-and-now and the yet-to-be.
O Lord, forgive our arrogance, our confident enlightenment our shallow temporal view of today, there is so much we do not know.
Advent, a crucial theme of Your story; Your patient waiting for all who will come to repentance, our patient and eager waiting for Your return for us.
I believe Your promises. A second advent is coming; every December we remember first promises of a Deliverer were fulfilled, future promises will be too.
May we feed our anticipation of Your soon return, talk together with expectant joy, even if our specific beliefs differ, imagining seeing You face-to-face is worthy conversation!
May we watch the news of our day as depressing and frightening as it is with eyes to see hints of Your plan being fulfilled; You are there for those with eyes to see. You are working, preparing the way for Your second Advent even when we can’t see As surely as you did Your first.
Advent’s story will close today’s chapters will end another will begin, And we will be with Our Alpha and Omega Forever!
Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Amen
[1] Genesis 3:15 [2] Revelation 1:8 [3] 2 Peter 3:4
[i] Fleming Rutledge, Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2018), 7.