Pastor’s Corner: “2nd Advent”
At Christmas time it’s easy to think so much about what God has done in the past that we forget to look toward the future. As wonderful as it was, Jesus’s first coming will pale in comparison to His second.
Daniel 7:13-14 (NIV) gives us a glimpse of what that will look like: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
What we can count on with the second coming of Christ compared to His first coming at His birth is simply the fact that He will come. Jesus birth was prophesied 750 years prior to His birth and It has been more than 2,000 years since His feet walked this earth. But He has never failed to fulfill His promises. He said He would return, and you can fully believe He will. He is not a God who keeps His distance. He came to live among us once; He will return to take us to live with Him as well. That’s what Daniel was writing about; it’s also what Jesus Himself said in John 14:2-3 (NASB) – “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” And He is not slow in coming as we think in human terms. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) – 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
And when He does return, He will again be worshipped. This time, however, instead of a just a handful of shepherds and a few wise men, Philippians 2:9-10 (NLT) says- 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
When Jesus returns in all his glory, one thing will not have changed. He will still be the Son of Man. He might be full of power and authority, but he is still the same God who is called Emmanuel, the Word made flesh and walked among us. With John’s vision in Revelation chapter 1, He saw Jesus in all His magnificent glory. Christ was changed, but John still recognized him. When He returns we will recognize Him too and we also will be changed. 1 John 3:2 (NIV) – 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
When Christ first came, He came in weakness. When He returns, He will come in power. He will arrive not on the earth, but in the clouds, with all the authority and glory that have always been His. There will be no humble lodgings or parents fleeing in fear from jealous kings.
The Emmanuel who walked with us, serving others and washing their feet, will return and be served by all nations and peoples. His second coming will not be an event witnessed only by a few people and some barnyard animals. Revelation 1:7 says, “every eye will see him.” The busy people of Bethlehem may have missed the first coming, but they won’t miss the second. And, unlike His first coming, there will be no end to His second. He won’t walk among us for 33 years then head back to heaven this time. His kingdom will have come, and it will last forever. That’s what Christmas is really about. Yes, we celebrate the fact that Jesus came, but we also rejoice in the fact that He is coming again!
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Pastor Hamilton