Hi Hope! Thanks for walking through this month-long season of Advent with us. By way of
reminder, the Advent season is the celebration of the coming of (or the advent of) Jesus. It is a
season of longing, waiting and expecting, as we place ourselves within story of those who
waited for the Messiah 2000 years ago. Now that we have had our various Christmas parties,
our Advent calendars sit empty, and presents all unwrapped, we can be left with a feeling of…
“So… now what?!”
Before allowing the exit of Advent, this special time of celebrating the arrival of Jesus, I think it
is appropriate for us to think about the second Advent. Just as so many in the Old Testament
waited for and desired the Messiah to come to them, we now do a similar thing. We wait in
expectation for Advent Part Two: The Sequel, the second arrival of Jesus. We do so in a similar
manner as the first, yearning for and desiring what is yet to come, not knowing when that will
take place.
Looking around at our world, we see many of God’s promises yet to be fulfilled. We see that all
of creation longs for and groans (Romans 8:18-21) to be made new. For those who are in Christ,
there are so many good things that await, as God will make things right. So, my friends, the
second coming of Jesus is something to be eager about, something that will bring the very
things we have talked about this advent season: hope, joy, peace and love. We don’t know the
future exactly, but we know the One who does. He has given us glimpses of it and has given us
enough. In the time between, we are given these helpful words:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house
has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a
place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with
me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John
14:1-4)
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life… Can any one of you by worrying add a single
hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25a, 27)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have
trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
So, in this time between, as we await Jesus’ return, may we find rest and peace in the only One
who can provide them. May we look forward in hope, joy, peace and love, waiting for our
Savior to come again.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark
reminder, the Advent season is the celebration of the coming of (or the advent of) Jesus. It is a
season of longing, waiting and expecting, as we place ourselves within story of those who
waited for the Messiah 2000 years ago. Now that we have had our various Christmas parties,
our Advent calendars sit empty, and presents all unwrapped, we can be left with a feeling of…
“So… now what?!”
Before allowing the exit of Advent, this special time of celebrating the arrival of Jesus, I think it
is appropriate for us to think about the second Advent. Just as so many in the Old Testament
waited for and desired the Messiah to come to them, we now do a similar thing. We wait in
expectation for Advent Part Two: The Sequel, the second arrival of Jesus. We do so in a similar
manner as the first, yearning for and desiring what is yet to come, not knowing when that will
take place.
Looking around at our world, we see many of God’s promises yet to be fulfilled. We see that all
of creation longs for and groans (Romans 8:18-21) to be made new. For those who are in Christ,
there are so many good things that await, as God will make things right. So, my friends, the
second coming of Jesus is something to be eager about, something that will bring the very
things we have talked about this advent season: hope, joy, peace and love. We don’t know the
future exactly, but we know the One who does. He has given us glimpses of it and has given us
enough. In the time between, we are given these helpful words:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house
has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a
place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with
me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John
14:1-4)
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life… Can any one of you by worrying add a single
hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25a, 27)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have
trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
So, in this time between, as we await Jesus’ return, may we find rest and peace in the only One
who can provide them. May we look forward in hope, joy, peace and love, waiting for our
Savior to come again.
Blessings,
Pastor Mark