Preparing for Christmas
Not long ago I found myself in the take-out line of a local restaurant. As I waited, I came to realize I was participating in a social experiment of sorts. The service counter was completely overwhelmed. People were waiting much longer for their food than they had anticipated and quickly becoming exasperated. I wondered, “Who among us would ‘break’ and go up to the counter to complain?” (I am proud to share that I persevered!)
While waiting for take-out is small potatoes, I think we would all admit that times of waiting in life are often some of our most difficult.
Whether it is waiting for news on college applications, career developments, or the results of a medical test, times of waiting are often challenging and uncomfortable.
The season of Advent (taken from the Latin word adventus, meaning ‘coming’ or ‘arrival’) is a season in which followers of Jesus prepare for the celebration of His birth by remembering those who first awaited his arrival and identifying with them as we wait on Christ to bring grace and restoration in our own days.
In the 700 years leading up to Jesus’ birth, the people of Israel were in a long season waiting. They were oppressed and ruled by the nations of Assyria and Babylon for around 300 years. During that time, many Israelites were taken away to work as servants in those foreign lands.
The Israelites longed to be restored to their land, reunited with their people, and free to worship God in the places where they could see and remember His faithfulness.
It was during that long season of waiting that God spoke to them through the prophet Jeremiah these words that are well-known by many:
“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” - Jeremiah 29:11-14
This promise kept hope alive for the people of Israel during a dark time. Little did they know, the restoration God would one day bring was much bigger than they ever would have imagined.
Jesus Christ was sent from the Father to bring restoration not only to the people of Israel but anyone who looks to Him in faith. Jesus came not to conquer nations, but to redeem them (John 3:17). He came not to push sinners out, but to gather them in (Luke 19:10). Jesus offers forgiveness, new, and eternal life to anyone who will confess their spiritual need and hope in Him.
Celebrating Christmas is about rejoicing in that Good News.
But as we enter this Advent season, let us pause to remember that we too are a people in waiting.
We see and hear of oppression, hatred, sickness, and death. Christ has won the ultimate victory over sin and death, but our world is not currently the way God intended it to be at creation, and it is not what it will one day be when Christ returns to renew the world in full.
Each of us who hope in Christ are therefore a people in waiting. This Advent season let us prepare our hearts for the grand celebration of Christmas by remembering what it is that we ultimately long for. We wait for the day when Christ will return to complete the good work He has begun.
