A New Advent for a New Testament

At the end of the Old Testament the Messenger of the Lord says this:

[malachi 3:1]

"See, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. Then the Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple, the Messenger of the covenant you desire—see, He is coming," says the LORD of Hosts.

This is God’s word.

And with that God's people entered a season of advent. Of expectantly waiting and preparing for the Lord's coming. That season of advent lasted for over 500 years. And then, out of nowhere (or to be more precise, out of Nazareth) almost undetected by everyone the Lord came…

[Luke 2:1-14]

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the inn. In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a manger." Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!

This is God’s word.

Immanuel. God with us. Christmas. Nowell. Whatever you call it, one thing is certain. The advent was finally over.

Now we today refer to "advent" as the brief period of time in which we expectantly wait and prepare to celebrate Jesus' first coming, his birth.

But as you celebrate the season of remembrance we call advent I hope you consider the advent season we live in TODAY. Not a season of the year, but moment in history we find ourselves when we “Advent” or expectantly wait and prepare for the Immanuel to come, For Jesus’ second coming.

I hope this Christmas season reminds us all that our advent is not just about celebrating an important historical event that happened thousands of years ago. But that it is also about expectantly waiting and preparing for the second coming of the Christ. Are you treating others as if you expect Jesus' return? Are you preparing yourself and others today for that return? I want to encourage us all to not let advent fade as December passed, the leaves return, and summer comes around but rather live in a perpetual state of advent, of expectation, of hope, and of preparation for a Savior's return.