Contrary to my intentions, I'm not doing an Advent series this year ....there are several reasons why I just couldn't get it done this trip around the sun. I've done what I consider to be some pretty good ones in years past...they're linked up on the sidebar if you're feeling in need of some Advent tradition. I'm kinda reading through them again myself, because, well, I need to read them again.
But I did have a thought hit me this morning as I pondered on how we, as a society, have pretty much given up Advent as a distinct season. Oh, I know, there are still some liturgical leaning churches who do the Advent liturgy and such, but ask any passing Joe on the street what holiday season we're in and they're most likely to say 'Christmas'. Unless, of course, they're Jewish and say 'Hannukah'.
I think it's kind of interesting that both Advent and Hannukah use candles to mark the time. Not that that actually has anything to do with what I've been pondering, but it is a nice little side note.
No, what hit me this morning has to do with the eschatological nature of Advent...that we are not just looking for the birth of the baby but the return of the King. We use the approaching celebration of His birth to also prepare for the day when he comes again.
And suddenly, I wondered...have we as a culture given up the observation of Advent precisely because we can't tolerate the idea of that return? That it's ok to focus on Christmas and the sweet baby but...thinking about the King returning is...well, too much? That the season of preparation is much easier to handle if it's not so much for the returning King but the return of Santa Claus?
Because we would, like, have to live as though what we did matters. Not just the kids, who are hoping to be on the nice list, but the adults. The Scripture has a repeating theme about servants called in to give an account of how they conducted the king's business in his absence.
Oh, I know, I'm probably overthinking the whole thing, but...maybe...we each do need to consider what account he or she will present on that day. With no self-deception to hide behind, none of us will be able to claim we didn't know the truth we were shown.
O Come, Thou Wisdom from on high
And order all things far and nigh
To us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go. ("Oh Come, Oh, Come Emmanuel, verse 3)
And he that testifies to these things says, "Surely, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! - Rev. 22:20, ESV.
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