From the Desk of Pastor Kim

Advent – Expectations

by Pastor Peter Kim and Asst. Pastor Peter Brown

December is already here, and we are coming to the close of 2019. It is a great time of year for believers all around the world as we look forward to celebrating Christmas.

Ah, yes—Christmas. Christmas is a time, at least in advertising, when there should be snow falling gently, with lights and decorations, mistletoe, and, of course, gifts. But Christmas can also be a time, if you live in the Southern hemisphere, to go swimming! In any case, people all around the world look forward to Christmas in their own ways.

As believers in Jesus Christ, the reason why we look forward to Christmas is different. We look forward to celebrating the day that our Savior was born. It is the day when “…though he was in the form of God, [he] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7). Jesus Christ was in heavenly glory without lacking anything. But out of God’s love for us, Jesus was willing to become a man and was born as a baby. It was because He was willing to do this that we have our Christmas story today.

The story, of course, does not end there. Jesus Christ grew up (Luke 2:52), lived a perfect, sinless life (Hebrews 5:9), and died on the cross for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3). He then rose from the dead and appeared to many people (1 Cor. 15:4-8). He ascended into heaven (Acts 2:9) and will one day return (1 Thessalonians 4:16) to bring the final judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).

So, Advent is a time when we wait and look forward to two things. We wait not only for Christmas, the day when we celebrate our Savior’s birth, but we also wait and look forward to his return as Lord and Judge of all the earth who will make all things new (Rev. 21:5).

Perhaps some of us wonder, “But why do we have a holiday about waiting? Isn’t that what we already do, all year long, all our lives? Wait for the return of Jesus? Why do we need a special time for it?”

We need a special time for it because we need to remember that we are…waiting. Do you see the important implication, here? The fact that we are waiting means that the world, as it is, is incomplete. This world, this life, is not all there is. From time to time, all of us get distracted by the cares (and the attractions) of this world, and do not remember that we are still in the middle of the story. This world, both at its best and at its worst, is not the final chapter. The great, glorious conclusion is still coming. In the day of Jesus’ return, all people will stand before the throne of judgment. Those who have believed in Jesus Christ will find their names in the book of life because of Jesus’ righteousness (1 John 1:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21), and we will experience being with the Lord who “will wipe away every tear…death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4).

So, although waiting is a big part of the season of Advent, it is not the only part. The other equally important part of Advent is coming. The word “advent” itself comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming” or “arrival.” The reason we are waiting in the first place is because something—someone—is coming.

Some may still wonder, “Okay, but why now? Yes, it is good to remember that the ‘story’ of the world is not over yet. But why focus on it in the weeks leading up to Christmas in particular? Why not in, say, the middle of July?”

Because Christmas reminds us that our waiting is not in vain. Two thousand years ago, our spiritual ancestors also waited (and waited) for a long-promised Savior to come from God to rescue them from the ravages of a world of pain and temptation—and he did. Not in the way most people were expecting. But God’s promise was fulfilled. The waiting was over. With the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the final chapter of the first great volume of redemption history was completed, and the first chapter of the second, and final, volume was begun. The people were not left waiting endlessly. Neither shall we be.

May this season be a time when we learn to wait on the Lord together with hope, with faith, with joy, and with peace.