Christians Anticipate His Coming
How exciting! Here we are on the threshold of a new Christian year! Perhaps my saying that has caused a raised eyebrow or two. After all, many folks are engaged in end of the year strategic tax planning. Plus our mailboxes are becoming stuffed with agencies that want to benefit from our (not unrelated to our tax planning) end of the year charitable giving.
However, the Christian year begins with Advent, and Advent begins November 27. What an exciting and invigorating season for Christians. Advent means “the coming.” And Christians remember in this season Christ’s first coming and anticipate His second coming. Christ’s first coming has everything to do with his second coming.
Consider this, near the dawn of the created world, shortly after Adam and Eve had broken covenant with God and disobeyed his command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, God gave to this shame-faced, broken couple a word brimming with hope. God told Satan, their adversary and deceiver, that: “his offspring and Eve’s offspring would live in enmity and that her offspring would crush his head” (Genesis 3:15).
As much as six thousand years later, in spite of repeated attempts on the part of Satan-inspired people to eradicate people loyal to God, “When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that [they] might receive the full rights of [children of God]” (Galatians 4:4).
This was the first Advent. A baby wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a livestock watering bowl whose birth was heralded by angels was part of this Advent. So was the hoarse cry of a man being crucified on a Roman cross, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). And the announcement of a resurrected, glorious, Man, “I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17). He also uttered this word concerning, John, His beloved disciple, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me” (John 21:22).
The fact that neither Satan, himself, nor any anti-God agent could prevent Christ’s first Advent means nothing, nor anyone, will be able to prevent his second Advent—His return for His own (see John 14:3).
The fact that Christ completed the redemptive mission that the Father sent him to accomplish during his first Advent means that the Devil will never be able to interrupt or interfere with Christ’s second Advent.
The clear testimony of scripture is that the Devil’s power has been broken, he has been defeated: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8). And, “He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28).
So the historical first Advent of Christ remembered and celebrated by Christians at the beginning of each Christian year, serves also to confirm their confidence in and expectation of Christ’s second Advent, marking the end of this world and translating believers to a new heaven and a new earth.
There they will live with God for all eternity and God “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).
Need more convincing that confidence in the risen Lord Jesus and conviction that His return is certain is well founded? Consider these words of Jesus recorded for us by John in the closing of the book of Revelation, “Behold, I am coming soon! . . . Behold, I am coming soon! . . . Yes, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:7-20). May our shouts rise with that of believers in every era and every people on planet earth: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20.)
Pastor Roger
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Calendar Items You Need to Share with Friends and Family
Tuesday, November 8, 5-7 p.m., Annual Soup Supper
Free will offering
Benefitting GEMS girls club and Operation Christmas Child
Sunday, November 13, 9:30 a.m., Operation Christmas Child
Send off of Shoeboxes asking His Blessing
Sunday, November 13, 3:00 p.m., Journey Bound Quartet
Free will offering
Sunday, November 20, 5:00 p.m., Master’s Voice
Free will offering
Wednesday, November 23, 7:00 p.m., Thanksgiving Service
Offerings as designated
Sunday, December 11, 5:00 p.m., Faithful Fire Quartet
Free will offering
Sunday, December 18, 9:30 a.m., Christmas Program
Offerings as designated
Sunday, December 25, 9:30 a.m., Christmas Service
Christmas offering