“Between the Advents”

Dear Friends,

In his book, Because of Bethlehem, Max Lucado reminds us, “We live between the Advents.” At Christmastime we look back in history to Jesus’ arrival as a small baby in a manager. The Second Advent is a future event when Christ returns in glory to take his place as King of kings and Lord of lords. We know the approximate date of Jesus birth, but as for the Second Coming, Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:36, “’But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’”

Of course, many of those who engage in eschatology (the study of end times) look at the signs of our times and believe that Jesus’ return is just around the corner. Their arguments notwithstanding, for any of us, the end time may be just beyond the next sunrise. Which leads to an interesting question, “What would you do today if you knew for certain that you would meet Jesus tomorrow?”

Now there are flippant answers, and there are theological answers to that question. The flippant answers can be fun, so let’s consider some of them first.

“If I knew I’d meet Jesus tomorrow, the politician might say, “That’s one recall I’ll be glad to be a part of.”

“If I knew I’d meet Jesus tomorrow, an over-eater might respond, I’d have a large banana split and a sheet cake, with one fork. I’d deal with the weightier issues tomorrow.”

If I knew I’d meet Jesus tomorrow, one might — as W.C. Fields was reported to have said —“Scan the Bible looking for loopholes!”

“If I knew I’d meet Jesus tomorrow,” the addict might say, “I’d know for sure that I could give up smoking, or drinking, or swearing, or you name it!”

The atheist might respond, “If I knew I’d meet Jesus tomorrow, I’d say, ‘Jesus? Who is Jesus?”

The atheist’s response actually moves us from the flippant to theological. Jesus wants to know who we say he is. “Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets. “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?’” Mark 8:27-29a (NIV)

The first Advent answered Jesus’ “Who am I?” question. We find the answer in the words spoken to the shepherds, “And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.’” Luke 2:10-11 (KJV)

Who you say Jesus is will determine how you anticipate the Second Advent. With this in mind, if I knew for certain that I’d meet Christ the Lord tomorrow, I think I’d invest in some heavy-duty knee pads. In fact, I think I’ll start praying more today.

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ