DECEMBER FROM OUR PASTORS

ADVENT

The advent of something means that it is finally here. For instance, you might be waiting for the advent of the flying car, though I wouldn’t hold my breath for that one. Besides, we think we are still some years away from living like the Jetsons. While flying cars would be lovely, the noun advent is used for the introduction of something important. And, I must confess that flying cars pale in comparison to the importance of the Advent of Christ’s first coming and second coming. 

While Christmas is one of our favorite times of the year and we go all out in our decor and table settings and we decorate well in advance, Advent is sacred to us. Advent is what sets the atmosphere for what we celebrate as the Christmas season or the “Christmas spirit.” Think about it this way: The wisemen didn’t find baby Jesus overnight and neither did the shepherds. From the moment the star and angel appeared, the wisemen and shepherds used the scriptures, specifically the Old Testament prophesies, to authenticate the events and the miracles that were happening around them. Advent began— the time of the Messiah was finally here. Days and weeks passed before the wisemen and the shepherds were able to visit Jesus, but they were excited and began celebrating, rejoicing that the Messiah was finally here; the Messiah’s time had come. Hence also the reason why the Christian year begins anew on the first day of advent and not on January 1. 

In addition to our decor we have adopted a family tradition, an advent calendar. We are not talking about the advent calendar that has been commercialized with candy in the pockets. We chose to make our own Advent calendar. In each pocket for every day in advent, we have scriptures to read together as a family, prayer requests, and of course a little sweet treat. It’s important to prepare for and celebrate the Time of our Messiah. 

How will you prepare to celebrate what God has already done in sending the Messiah? How will you prepare for the second advent using the first as an example that God is a God of His word?