Waiting on the World to ChangeSample

“Let us be alert and self-controlled.” I Thessalonians 5:6

Advent marks the weeks leading up to the celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas. But Advent, the first season of the Christian year, is also about getting ready for the second coming of the Lord.

Next time you sing “Joy to the World,” look for the references to the birth or 'nativity' of Christ. Guess what? You won’t find any. Isaac Watts’ hymn actually looks forward to Christ’s second coming, made clear in the third stanza (which, ironically, seems to be the verse most often omitted): “No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; he comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found.” The reign of Christ over heaven and earth is inaugurated in his nativity, to be sure, but “Joy to the World” is a vision of its future fulfillment, the reversal of the Fall, and the restoration of all creation.

So much of our focus as contemporary Christians is on the birth of Christ, and the celebration of the holiday, that it is easy to lose focus on the fact that, as Christians, we live in a state of ready awareness and waiting for the Lord Jesus to return in complete triumph.

Today’s scripture from Thessalonians reminds us of that other aspect of Advent. The same themes of counting down the days to Jesus’ birth are present: waiting, expecting, keeping watch, lightness and dark. However, unlike Christmas, the second coming of Jesus is not scheduled ahead of time. It’s something we can count on, but we do not know exactly when it will happen. We know he “will come like a thief in the night” (v. 2) and it will be a surprise to all— except Christians who are prepared, watching and waiting, and living as children of the light.

What’s particularly intriguing about this passage is that the emphasis is on “children of the light” (v.5). The first person pronoun is the plural “we.” So, how do we wait for Jesus’ second coming? We look out for one another by putting on armor to protect ourselves and each other. We prepare in the season of Advent as a church, and as a community, encouraging one another, supporting one another, helping one another keep watch, and keep the faith until Jesus once again.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your first coming, where you became like us in every way, yet without sin, and started something brand new - the in-breaking of your Lordship, even as a baby, over all creation. As we await your second coming, may we live as children of light, ambassadors of your Kingdom to a world in such need of the hope that can only be found in you. Amen.