Thank you for taking the time to read the message today. I hope that all of you are doing well. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to post this message.
We are in the Advent season, and one of the aspects of this time of year as we approach Christmas is waiting. I know that when I was young, I had a hard time waiting for the time to come to open up the presents that were wrapped up under the tree. As I've gotten older, I have to wait for a lot of things like doctor's appointments and such. Waiting is never easy. Sometimes it can cause anxiety and doubt that anything good will even happen.
Before the birth of Jesus, there was a long period of waiting. When Adam and Eve sinned in Eden, God gave the first mention of a redeemer which we find in Genesis 3:15. This verse states, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between her offspring and your offspring, he shall bruise your head, and you will strike his heel." This is the first prophecy that one would come who would crush the work of Satan.
From that time until the birth of Jesus, thousands of years went by. During that time, the Lord continued to give messages that the Messiah was coming. Isaiah and Micah are just a couple of the prophets who told that people that the Messiah was on the way. People needed to be ready and keep their hearts and minds set upon the things of the Lord.
Looking back, we know that the Messiah did come. Jesus was born on Christmas Day. Galatians 4:4 tells us that when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son. Everything worked out just right in God's timetable of events.
Those of us who are believers in Jesus are looking forward to the Second Advent. This is the time when Jesus will come again just as He promised. One place we read about this is in John 5:28-29. Jesus will return and judge the world. He will restore all things to the way that they were before sin entered into the world.
It has been 2,000 years since Jesus left this earth, and we continue to wait for His coming. We know that some people mock and discount the fact that Jesus will come again. The Bible tells us in the writings of Peter that this will be the case. We also know that just like in the first Advent, Jesus will come again at just the right time in God's timetable.
Because God kept all of His promises about the first coming of the Messiah, we can have confidence that what He told us about the Second Coming is true also. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
While we are waiting in anticipation of the coming of our Lord, we have to remain ready. Jesus told us in Matthew 24:42 to stay awake, for we do not know when He is going to come again. In anticipation of the fact that Jesus could return at any moment, we need to remain faithful. We need to be living lives of holiness so that we are not ashamed at His coming. We need to continue to obey the Great Commission and tell others that Jesus loves them and wants to forgive them. We need to help others and do good to the least among us.
We are waiting. We are waiting for Christmas, and we are waiting for the coming of the Lord again. Let us live for Him always. Amen.
Prayer Requests
I would ask that you pray with me about my health once again. My arthritis and lung problems are doing well, but I am having a lot of stomach problems. I thank you for your prayers.
Continue to pray about the situation in Israel and Gaza. Pray for peace. Pray for the release of hostages.
Pray for peace in the other troubles areas of the world. This week, let us focus our prayers on Ukraine and Sudan.
Continue to pray that those recovering from natural disasters around the world will receive the aid that they need.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Somalia and Iran. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, we will continue with an Advent themed message. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all.
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