And, So It Begins…

 

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.”

—2 Peter 3:10a

Yesterday marked the beginning of when the Christian church—the Body of Christ—celebrates a time of longing and anticipation at the beginning of every new church year. We call this period of time “Advent.”

This dual celebration recognizes the anticipation that the Jewish people felt, as they longed for relief from their tormentors that would come when Messiah arrived. Advent also recognizes the anticipation that “Christ’s-ones” feel in the earnest hope that Jesus will return again very soon. This longing is a natural and important part of being a Christian.

Did you know that the word “Christ” is simply the Greek word for “Messiah”? So, when we use the phrase “the Lord Jesus Christ” we could also just as easily use the phrase “the Lord Jesus Messiah.”

The promised Messiah would free His chosen people from their oppressors. As Christians, we long for the promised return of the Messiah to free us from the oppression of sin.

Yes, our sins are totally forgiven by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross at Calvary. But, we still carry with us the sin nature we inherited from Adam and the disobedience we have contributed to by our own sin.

That sin nature is a constant barrier to holiness. We must daily strive, often with great difficulty, to allow the Holy Spirit to overrule our selfish sinful wills in order for us to follow obediently the pathway of Jesus.

A glorious encouragement for us is the time of Advent. The Apostle Peter wrote these very words to boost the hope and longing in the hearts of the new Christians. We can gain encouragement, as well, from what Peter wrote. Read carefully these precious words found in 2 Peter 3:10-13:

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Peter asks a crucial question: “What kind of people ought you to be?” So, I repeat Peter’s question as we begin this new day: “What kind of people ought we to be?” The answer: “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”

How do we do that? We do so by allowing the Holy Spirit to nurture within us the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. That’s a tall order. Fortunately, we are not alone. The Spirit helps us in our weakness.

This day, let us remember that Christ is coming back. Let us hope and pray it will be soon. In the meantime, let’s determine to strive to live in holiness with a life-transforming love and grace.

 

_{Copyright © 2016 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}