Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/84

Contributor - Engelina Van Essen

Title - Advent

Topic - Advent

As a heart longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee O God! - Psalm 42.-I

ADVENT, a time of hope, of longing; a time of waiting, of expectation.

The date when the Advent season was first observed is uncertain. Bishop Perpeetuus of Tours, 461 - 490, established a fast before Christmas that began on November I 1. The Council of Tours mentioned an Advent season in 567 that lasted from four to six weeks. In our Western world, Advent begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30, and is the beginning of the church year. Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming", and is a period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas, but also a preparation for the second coming of the Lord.

In this day and age we are not likely to forget that Christmas is coming near. The world prepares herself for the big event. For many, Christmas is nothing more than parties, presents, homecoming and a good time. How easy it is for us Christians to let all our preparations control us. There is nothing wrong with planning and presents and get-togethers, as long as they don't get the better part of us.

John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ. He was "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight" (Luke 3:4). When a King proposed to tour a part of his dominion in the east, he sent a courier before him to tell the people to prepare the roads. During the coronation service in Westminster Abbey there happened a kind of modern parallel to this. When all the congregation was seated, a squad of cleaners unexpectedly emerged with brushes and vacuum cleaners, and proceeded to sweep the carpets so the that they would be absolutely clean for the coming of the Queen. So John is regarded as the courier of the King. But the preparation on which he insisted was a preparation of the heart. "The King is coming," he said. "Mend not your roads, but your lives."

To the Jews, the hope for the Kingdom was their very reason for existence. How long had they hoped? A thousand years, and even more than that? They had hoped for deliverance when Moses led them into the wilderness. They had set their hopes high, when Saul became their first King, and when he failed they hoped that David would be the one; - or his son, or someone from the house and lineage of David. And suddenly, here came a man out of the wilderness to proclaim that the Kingdom is here.

Who is this man? A delegation was sent from Jerusalem to investigate. No, he is not the messiah, nor Elijah. He isn't the prophet either. He is just a voice. A voice of one crying in the wilderness. But what a message he has. "The Kingdom of heaven is at hand!" Wouldn't it be great to say, that now the kingdom of heaven is here, all our troubles are over, all fears of war, all hatred and violence, all famine and sickness are gone? But it isn't that way. In Romans 14:17 we read, "For the Kingdom of God does not mean food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Living in God's Kingdom means, putting Kingdom duties first, - it means right-living in His Kingdom. When we want to live in God's Kingdom, we have to set our lives in order. "Repent," John preaches, turn around, change your attitudes. The things that cannot stand judgement must go.

John is also very practical in his approach. When the people came to ask him, "What shall we do?" he said, "He who has two coats, let him share with one who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." When the tax collectors asked, "What shall we do?" John did not say, "leave your jobs, you followers of Rome." He said, "Collect no more than is appointed of you." Soldiers asked him, "and what shall we do?" John did not say, "get out of the army, you cannot be a member of the Kingdom and bear arms." No, he said, "Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages" (Luke 3:12 -14). It was John's conviction that no where can we serve God better than in our daily work.

John is still the Herald who goes before the King. He is still calling to us, "Make room for the Lord, for He is coming." Long for Him, as a soul longs for flowing streams. Do we hear His voice; - do we use this time of Advent to reflect on Christ's birth? It is so easy to neglect ourselves during this time when we prepare all those "outside" activities, connected with our way of celebrating Christmas. It is so easy when we clean house for Christmas, to leave the rooms of our inner self all cluttered up with things that have no place there. When we want the King of Kings to enter in, we have to empty ourselves to make room for Him.

Please click the "Back" button of your browser to return to previous page.