By Guest Columnist, Spencer Sullivan, Pastor, Pelahatchie Baptist
For many, the Christmas and larger holiday season is the absolute best part of the year. Certainly, count me among those who love the season! Without question, there is this natural and radiant joy that fills the air. Perhaps it is generated by all the special traditions associated with Christmas. Personally, I love Christmas lights and decorations. I love driving around town and to different neighborhoods to see all that people put out and decorate. I love listening to Christmas music. There is just something about the carols and songs that fill my heart with hope, joy, and peace. I love the special gatherings with friends and family as we communicate our love for one another, perhaps more than any other time of the year.
Did you know that this season and build up to Christmas Day actually has a name? Yes—Advent. I understand that not everyone who enjoys the Christmas season necessarily recognizes Advent, but the traditional themes of Advent are hope, joy, peace, and love; all words that I have used to describe the emotions that this season produces.
The season of Advent is always comprised of the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas Day. But, what is the meaning of Advent? Why do we recognize and celebrate it? The word Advent literally means ‘coming’ or ‘arrival.’ Therefore, the Advent season is when followers of Jesus, celebrate and remember His humble birth. But Advent is not only about remembering Jesus’ birth and first coming. As His followers, the Advent season also leads us to look forward with eager anticipation of His promised return. It’s a time for families and the church to reflect together on God’s faithfulness throughout history and also to await Christ’s second and final coming with hope.
It makes a lot of sense that one of the major emphases of Advent is remembering the birth of our Lord, since it leads up to Christmas Day. Though He came as a humble baby, Jesus came to bring hope for the hopeless. He came so that lost sinners can once and for all be reconciled to God. For those who have called upon the name of Jesus to save us, we are forever grateful for His sacrifice—so yes, of course, we remember and celebrate that first arrival of the Savior of the world.
However, the other emphasis that many may be unaware of is this eager anticipation of His second and final coming. For those that call Him Lord, we love Him. We worship Him. We long to be in His physical presence forevermore. Therefore, this season of Advent is a reminder that while He already came and purchased for us the best gift of all—eternal life—He is coming again to take His people home for eternity where we will worship Him forever! And when He comes again, it won’t be as a humble baby. When He arrives the second and final time, it will be as a glorious Warrior King who will reign on His throne forever and ever.
I hope that you will recognize and celebrate the Advent season with these two emphases in mind. Enjoy your time with friends and family. Enjoy the music, the lights, the food, the traditions. Soak up all the joy, hope, peace, love, and all the other warm and hopeful emotions the season produces. I encourage you to remember the humble birth of the Son of God and worship Him as you do. But, also remember that His return is imminent. If you follow Him, I encourage you to eagerly anticipate His return with a desire to see Him and worship Him. However, if you’ve yet to surrender to Him, recognize His lordship, and receive the precious gift of eternal life, may all the reminders of the season draw you to see Him for who He truly is—Lord of all and Savior of the world!
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