Christmas Future


CHRISTMAS FUTURE: Living In Hope

  • The Second Advent: We're waiting for more than Dec. 25.
  • A Thousand Years Are Like A Day: We don't know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future.

    The Second Advent

    "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in Heaven, and the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory."
    MATTHEW 24:30-31

    Advent is a season with a two-fold focus. It is a time in which Christians recall and celebrate Jesus Christ's entrance into our world to redeem mankind and triumph over death. It is also a period in which believers look forward to the "Second Advent" - the day when He will come back.

    For nearly 2,000 years, Christians have lived in the hope of Our Lord's imminent return. Jesus' description of the event spans two chapters in the Gospel of Matthew (24-25) and is usually read as part of the lectionary as Christmas nears. The Second Coming was also an emphasis in the epistles of Paul, Peter and John. Bible scholars cite more than 300 references to it in the New Testament. In his teachings about the Second Coming, it's important to understand that Jesus emphasized spiritual preparation rather than irresponsible speculation.

    A philosopher once observed that people on their deathbed rarely conclude that they wish they'd spent more time at work. They become focused on faith, family, how they'll be remembered and what happens when they die. Priorities that elude us in the course of our busy daily routine become crystal-clear if our hours appear numbered..

    In the same way, the possibility that Jesus may show up at any moment forces Christians to maintain an attitude of vigilance and preparedness. The prospect of meeting God face-to- face helps sort our priorities, and our relationship with the Lord goes right to the top of the list. Which, as Christ taught us, is as it should be ("love the Lord with all your heart and all your mind and all your soul.") It reminds us that it matters whether we greet the Lord as an old friend or as a stranger.

    Christianity is a faith that takes the long view of world events. It believes that understanding the beginning and end of time provides us with perspective on everything in between, and reminds us that God is in charge throughout.

    Christ always made a distinction between the temporary nature of our worldly existence and the permanence of the Kingdom of Heaven. It's hard for us to let go of our attachments to this life. The "end of the world" is frightening to us because we instinctively fear change and cling to what we know, even when we are promised something far better.
    At Christmas, we celebrate the beginning of the mission Christ will complete at the Second Coming - to free us from our dependence upon this world; to secure eternal life for each and every believer through his work on our behalf. "In this world you will have tribulation,'' Jesus said. " But take heart - I have overcome the world!"

    A Thousand Years Are Like A Day

    "You must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say 'Where is this coming he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation' ... But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
    2 PETER 3: 3-4, 8-9

    We live in astounding times. The combination of momentous political change and unusual natural phenomena in recent years has many folks wondering just what the heck is going on. The evangelist Billy Graham recently wrote that he has never in 50 years of ministry had so many people ask him if the end of the world is at hand.

    The timing of the Second Coming has always titillated us, perhaps because it is concealed from us. For as Jesus said, "No one knows that day or hour, not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." That instruction often gets forgotten when believers see events that correspond with the signs Christ said would foreshadow His return. There is growing speculation that the Second Coming is imminent, a trend that will only intensify as the turn of the millenium approaches.

    Christians must take care to not be deceived - either by those who insist He's coming tomorrow, or those who claim He won't return in our lifetime.

    For the "scoffers" are also many, and are on thin ice as well. For decades, progressive thinkers ridiculed "Bible believing" scholars who insisted that Christ's return would be immediately preceded by such unlikely events as European political union, a cashless society and a Middle East peace treaty. No one's laughing today.

    But as Peter understood, a comma on a page in the Bible could be 50 or 100 years for us. God defines "soon" much differently than we do. God's desire is for "everyone to come to repentance" -- for us to invite Christ into our hearts and our lives. On a Bethlehem night 2,000 years ago, He came as a babe. One day, He will come in glory. In our world, He comes to us through the love and caring of forgiven people living changed lives.

    Christ means for us to join him in eternal life. For now, His will is for us to be here, loving our neighbor until they ask us why, and then pointing them toward the Cross.

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