They waited for generations.  Not since the days of King David and his wise son, Solomon, had there been such anticipation.  They’d wait for a long, long time.  They’d be persecuted, live in slavery, become a nomadic nation moving from place to place without one they could actually call home.  They’d know defeat, pain, agony and poverty.   They were submitted to torture, death and near extinction.  The days go on even today, as many continue to wait for the Messiah.

Time was ripe for a Savior – just like it is today.  The politics of the time weren’t much different.  The morality of that era was as bad and maybe even worse than now.  The disrespect for life – for marriage – for civil obedience – the intolerance for other ethnicities, the poor, sick, and mentally ill continue today. With political correctness and hopes of leveling the playing field, we have created another kind of monster – one that has no rules, no boundaries and an ‘anything goes’ mentality.

Isaiah clearly and vividly described what would happen.  There would be one crying in the wilderness announcing the arrival of the Savior.  It was all foretold, but it seemed it would never happen.  When those prophesies were meticulously fulfilled, there were those who’d continue to doubt.  The forerunner of Christ, John, the Baptist, prepared the way for Jesus, by calling people to repentance.  He laid the groundwork for the mission of Jesus.

Now we wait again for the Messiah.  We wait for our resurrected Savior, who lives once more on the throne of God with His Father and the Holy Spirit.  When He returns, those with faith in their forgiveness will be joined as heirs of His kingdom.

We wait, but are we ready?  There’s nothing we can physically do to gain entrance into heaven.  It’s all been done for us, but still we need to prepare, by sincerely repenting of our sins. The whole process of forgiveness has been orchestrated by God, because of His unconditional love. As a result of our gratitude, we’ll show love to others and be obedient to God’s Word.

As we think about that first coming of Jesus, let’s remember that He will come again.  The Advent-ure has only just begun; not because we have chosen God, but that He has accepted us through the work done by Jesus.