Pastor's Desk
November 27 , 2005
TODAY IS THE First Sunday of Advent when Christians begin to celebrate the coming of the Light, Jesus Christ the Son of God. The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” Each of the four Sundays before Christmas we are encouraged to focus on a different aspect of his Coming: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Coming, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Coming.
For us as Christians in a multi-religious environment we have an opportunity to be witnesses during the Christmas Advent season. We can present Jesus as the Hope of the nations. We can “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks [us] to give the reason for the hope that [we] have.” (1 Peter 3:15) Hope is the certain expectation of something which has begun to reveal itself--much like the faint glimmer of the dawn on the horizon is a certain sign that the morning sun will soon rise. When God announced that he was going to send the seed of the woman to crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15) a spark of hope was placed into the hearts of the first human beings after the fall and then when Jesus came the first time, the hope burned more brightly.
Jesus came into this dark world with intention of bringing light. He ignited a fire 2000 years ago which in spite of the darkness around us is burning brighter and brighter as time goes on. The good news of Jesus Christ is being demonstrated, proclaimed and received in more places around the world than it ever has been. We must not be distracted by what appears to be a momentary lull in the advance of the kingdom of God in our own local and national context. Rather, let us turn our own lights on. We have a part to play in dispelling the darkness around us. If it is dark, who turned out the light? The words of Jesus continue to challenge us: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16) As we let our lights shine, “we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)
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Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
This page was last updated on Friday, November 25, 2005