Please do not stop reading today, just yet anyway. The pleasure of finding and giving just the right gift cannot be ignored. The joyous festivities that surround our “Christmas” are a great break from the weary duties of life. But . . .
The BEST way to celebrate is to intentionally pace our
way through Advent, preparing our hearts and minds for the coming of the King,
going again to the Word to discover God’s great Gift and why He was given.
Advent calls us back to ponder our sin and God’s grace, our just condemnation to death, His intervention to give Life and Light. Advent means so much precisely because it is told to a dark world in desperate need of the Light. We like to deceive ourselves with the myth that we are wonderful, that we only ‘make mistakes,’ that evil is only found in isolated pockets in this world. Wake up! See as He sees! God looks over a world where people hate each with murderous intent in His Name! He sees cruelty on a scale that is beyond my imagination. He hears the secret conversations we have inside our own heads- where we lust, covet, and hate in secret. He sees the mass murderers in action and the little child learning to sin - and loves this world anyway.
Advent calls us back to ponder our sin and God’s grace, our just condemnation to death, His intervention to give Life and Light. Advent means so much precisely because it is told to a dark world in desperate need of the Light. We like to deceive ourselves with the myth that we are wonderful, that we only ‘make mistakes,’ that evil is only found in isolated pockets in this world. Wake up! See as He sees! God looks over a world where people hate each with murderous intent in His Name! He sees cruelty on a scale that is beyond my imagination. He hears the secret conversations we have inside our own heads- where we lust, covet, and hate in secret. He sees the mass murderers in action and the little child learning to sin - and loves this world anyway.
When I see things that way – the story of Noah makes a
lot more sense to me than the story of Jesus.
I can understand God's anger and the solution He proposed! "God
saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined
evil—evil, evil, evil from morning to night. God was sorry that he had made the
human race in the first place; it broke his heart. God said, “I’ll get rid of
my ruined creation, make a clean sweep: people, animals, snakes and bugs,
birds—the works. I’m sorry I made them.”" (Genesis 6:5-7, The
Message) That makes sense, doesn't it?
Just destroy it and start
over!
But, Advent shows us the heart of the Father, the
merciful albeit just God who acts from a
love that defies my understanding. God
steps into the darkness and reveals the Light.
He intervenes, not to destroy but to restore.
Advent’s glorious message is summed up in this passage
which says - "When we were utterly
helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, no
one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die
for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by
sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (Romans
5:6-8, NLT)
Our brokenness becomes the place for the display of God's
beauty!
Our sinfulness provides the canvas on which He paints His
picture of forgiveness.
The darkness makes His Light shine brilliantly.
Advent renews my hope - for myself, for the world that I
live in. It is not a hope that springs
from any human self-improvement program or some personal victory. This hope comes from the promise of Jesus
Christ to love us despite our sin.
Advent sings with joyful celebration -"He comes to make His blessings
flow far as the curse is found!"
Trips to the mall, brightly wrapped gifts, tinsel and
lights strung to celebrate can never replace
the JOY in the message - "Because of
God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to
give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to
guide us to the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79, NLT)
This is not a season for despair, He comes with hope.
This is not a season to be discouraged, He comes with
deliverance.
It’s Advent! (Latin – He comes to us!)
____________________________
Come, Thou Long
Expected Jesus
Come, Thou long
expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy
people free.
From our fears and
sins release us,
Let us find our
rest in Thee.
Israel's strength
and consolation,
Hope of all the
earth Thou art!
Dear desire of
every nation,
Joy of every
longing heart.
Born Thy people to
deliver!
Born a child and
yet a King.
Born to reign in us
forever,
Now Thy gracious
Kingdom bring.
By Thine own
eternal Spirit
Rule in all our
hearts alone.
By Thine all
sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy
glorious throne.
Charles Wesley | Rowland Hugh Prichard
© Words: Public Domain
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