Advent – Living In Expectation
It seems like we’ve spent much of the past two years longing for something better - freedom from fear and uncertainty about COVID-19, no more restrictions on movement or gatherings, not having to wear a mask… Time and time again conversations have come back to the date when COVID restrictions will ease and what life will be like after that day. Australia was, and to a degree still is, a nation living in expectation.
Living in expectation is also the central theme of the Christian season of Advent. This year Advent begins on the 28th of November. “Advent”, literally means, “arrival”. For Christians, Advent is a season of expectation that ends with the arrival of God’s greatest gift to this world, his son, Jesus.
Today, the most common use of this word is in Advent Calendars. There are plenty available in the shops right now. I had a look around and quickly found a “Friends Advent Calendar”, a “Spiderman Advent Calendar”, a “Harry Potter Advent Calendar”, a “Disney Princess Advent Calendar”, and many more. The kids’ ones are filled with chocolate. Many of the adults’ ones have alcohol as well. Advent Calendars are a way to count down the days until Christmas. With each window we open, we know that Christmas is one day closer, and our sense of excitement builds.
Before the very first Christmas over 2000 years ago, people were looking forward to the birth of Jesus with increasing excitement and counting down the years to his arrival. Technically, of course, we can’t count down to the birth of Jesus because it has already happened. But we are still living in expectation because Jesus has promised to return. Jesus said…
“…I am going to prepare a place for you… When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:2-3).
For Christians, every Christmas brings us one year closer to that day. There is a sense in which every Christmas is like opening another window in a cosmic Advent Calendar. What does living in expectation look like? How do we get ready to celebrate the return of Jesus? In another place the bible says…
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Let’s make these things our goals as we prepare to celebrate Christmas this year!
Neil Percival
Living in expectation is also the central theme of the Christian season of Advent. This year Advent begins on the 28th of November. “Advent”, literally means, “arrival”. For Christians, Advent is a season of expectation that ends with the arrival of God’s greatest gift to this world, his son, Jesus.
Today, the most common use of this word is in Advent Calendars. There are plenty available in the shops right now. I had a look around and quickly found a “Friends Advent Calendar”, a “Spiderman Advent Calendar”, a “Harry Potter Advent Calendar”, a “Disney Princess Advent Calendar”, and many more. The kids’ ones are filled with chocolate. Many of the adults’ ones have alcohol as well. Advent Calendars are a way to count down the days until Christmas. With each window we open, we know that Christmas is one day closer, and our sense of excitement builds.
Before the very first Christmas over 2000 years ago, people were looking forward to the birth of Jesus with increasing excitement and counting down the years to his arrival. Technically, of course, we can’t count down to the birth of Jesus because it has already happened. But we are still living in expectation because Jesus has promised to return. Jesus said…
“…I am going to prepare a place for you… When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:2-3).
For Christians, every Christmas brings us one year closer to that day. There is a sense in which every Christmas is like opening another window in a cosmic Advent Calendar. What does living in expectation look like? How do we get ready to celebrate the return of Jesus? In another place the bible says…
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Let’s make these things our goals as we prepare to celebrate Christmas this year!
Neil Percival