Have you noticed? Advent calendars are making a comeback. I remember the excitement of opening those little doors with my sisters growing up. But today, many Advent calendars feel more like a second Halloween—with the focus on candy rather than the true purpose of the countdown.
It begs the question: What are we waiting for in opening that last box on December 25th?
For Christians, Advent is a look back and a look forward. We aren’t just looking backward to Jesus’ birth; we are also looking forward to His promised return. Every day, throughout the year, we live in eager expectation of Jesus’ second coming. We are people of the second advent.
Why Jesus’ second coming is exciting for Christians
Strength for Today
As Mr Kohlwey recently shared in an email to our community, “Keeping our hearts and minds on Jesus and His second coming will help us hold on loosely to the things of this world and we can trust that He is holding on to us through His love for us.”
The book of Revelation reminds us of this truth. Its opening and closing chapters brim with hope:
- In the first chapters, we hear that everyone who reads, hears, and keeps the words of Revelation is blessed. We hear words of grace and peace, reminders of our identity as a kingdom of priests, and overcomers who are freed from sin by the blood of the Lamb.
- In the last chapter, we hear an echo of the promised blessing. Jesus affirms, “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll” (Revelation 22:7).
More significant than hope, is the picture we see of who God is. Over and over in Revelation, we learn about God’s eternality and sovereignty.
Eternality: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).
Sovereignty: His rule is forever. In the first view of the throne room we get in Revelation, we see the slain Lamb on the throne, surrounded by living creatures. “Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8).
Knowing who God is gives us strength for today.
Bright Hope for Tomorrow
“Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:5a)
Is there any other verse in the bible that causes us to sigh with such relief? Or turn our gaze up in amazement? Or make our hearts open with longing? Why does this idea of making all things new resonate so deeply with us? It’s not because we all love getting new things. It’s because we know how broken the world is.
Revelation 21:4 paints a picture of what’s coming: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
What are the former things that are passing away? Heartbreak. Sickness. Depression. Loss. Anger. Injustice. The list goes on and on.
What’s new? A perfect, complete, and eternal dwelling with God.
Humanity has longed for this since the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve stayed near the entrance to the garden, hoping to return to their Creator’s presence. The Tabernacle was Moses' hope for dwelling with God, yet at the end of Exodus, we see Moses unable to enter the space. The temple was the hope of the Israelites that God would dwell with them, but Ezekiel saw the presence of the Lord leave (Ezekiel 10). The hope of dwelling together was never realized.
Through Jesus’ first coming, His disciples experienced dwelling with God in a way no one had before. They walked with the one who IS living water, IS the bread of life, IS the vine, IS the resurrection and life, IS the door, IS the good shepherd, and IS the way, the truth, and the life.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can experience a taste of dwelling with God. We have been saved from the penalty of sin, and sin has lost its power in our lives. We look forward to the day when sin’s presence is no more.
The full fulfillment of the promise of dwelling together is still coming to the horizon.
Great is Thy faithfulness
He who has promised is faithful. He has been faithful in the redemption story so far:
- After the Fall, the Seed-Crusher and One who would bless the nations was promised.
- Jesus - fully God and fully man - was born as a baby.
- He lived the life we cannot live.
- He died the death we deserve, saving us from our sins.
- He was resurrected on the third day.
- He ascended into heaven.
- Now, He is seated on the throne.
In all these things, God is working out the plan for salvation, demonstrating His eternality and sovereignty. We look back to remember His faithfulness so we can look forward with confidence. We can be confident that He will fulfill His promise to come again, make all things new, wipe away every tear, and dwell with His people forever.
So this Advent season, as we sing songs of a baby in a manger, we also say “Amen. Come Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:20)
