Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/87

Contributor - John Heeg

Title - Advent: A Time of Hope

Topic - Advent

Advent, for a believer, was a time in which God's people were reminded about the coming of the Lord. It was a time in which the people of God were looking forward how God would bring light and life into a dark and dead world.

In the Old Testament, it was a time in which they would witness God's mighty ways even surpassing what they had witnessed during the Exodus from Egypt and with the return from their Babylonian Exile. Advent meant the coming of God to the manger of Bethlehem; the coming of the Son of God to redeem life from destruction. "Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he will save his people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21)

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners! God himself would come down in the form of His Son to share in our broken humanity. To take upon His shoulders our sin and guilt, setting us free from the bondage of sin. He would come and make peace with us, so that the wrath of God would no longer rest upon us. By the way of the cross He would open the doors of our prisons and liberate us from the power of sin and destruction - leading us from darkness and enabling us to walk in His marvelous light. "I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly" sharing already now in the joy and the power of everlasting life.

To claim this victory of Christ's first coming, it was necessary for his people to acknowledge their bondage of sin, their misery and a life full of uncertainties. To make ready their hearts, to make their paths straight and allow the King to transform their lives. To lead them upon the path of Eternal life. To mold them into a New creation. This great summons, so to come in faith, allowing themselves to be saved by the Son of God, was a dominant theme during the Advent Season. The great prophet, John the Baptist, called upon all people to make room for the coming King. The apostle Peter later on also emphasized this truth to answer the question why it took so long for the Lord to return for the second time. With pastoral concern he wrote: "The Lord is not slow about his promise ... but forbearing toward you, not wishing that any soul perish, but that all should reach repentance." (II Peter 3:9)

Should not again this summons be given during this Advent Season within as well as outside the Church?

As we now stand in between the first and second coming of Christ, the apostle Paul mentions Advent in much greater frequency then the first Advent. Both Christ himself and the apostles stress the seriousness of making the right preparation for His second coming.

Jesus calls for watchfulness: "Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at the table, and he will come and serve them." (Luke 12:35 - 37)

We are constructing eternity now, those who fail to allow themselves to come in faith and let themselves be saved through the power of His Grace will face the future with fear, because of the expected judgment. But those who have believed the promise of advent, who have been reformed according to the word of God can joyfully say what is stated so well in the Heidelberg Catechism (Lord's Day 19 Answer 52) I may await with head held high anticipating the celebrations of the marriage-feast.

May the joy of His coming already radiate from you as you eagerly await His arrival. "In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." (II Peter 3:13 - 14)

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