Day 9 - Hope of Christ's Appearing

Child of Hope: An Advent Devotional

Monday, December 8, 2008

Hope of Christ’s Appearing

[We are to live] self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:12,13

Advent is not just about looking back to the first coming of Christ. It’s also about looking forward to His coming again. So, when we sing, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” we need to remember that our words not only reflect the longing of faithful Jews for the coming of God’s Messiah, they also point to our future hope.

There is another theme, lurking beneath the surface of our Advent celebration. That theme is judgment. When He came as a baby, in Bethlehem, the world judged itself by its response. But when He comes again He shall judge the earth with justice. His “glorious appearing” will be a source of great joy for those who know themselves to be saved by grace; but for those have scorned and rejected His ways, the light of Christ’s presence will come, not as a relief but as a threat. This time, He will not appear as a vulnerable baby, cradled in a manger. He will come as “our great God and Savior.” He will demand an accounting, as is His right as the Maker of heaven and earth. The sword of justice will be in His hand. No-one will be able to escape from the Day of His reckoning.

Yet, for those who believe, who have lived their lives with an eye to His coming, this is a blessed hope. It is a source of blessing today and tomorrow. On that Day, those who have trusted in the Savior shall be vindicated, death shall be no more, neither shall there be any mourning or crying or pain, for the former things will have passed away. This is our hope.

Prayer for the Day
Advent God,
turn our thoughts from preoccupation
with the gaudy symbols of the season,
to the celebration of Emmanuel, God with us.
We praise You for the gift of Jesus, Your Son,
and we look forward in hope to His coming again.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.