The Light has Come, the Light is Coming
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Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future He will bring honor to the Way of the Sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.
You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before You as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils.
For You have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as You did on the day of Midian.
For the trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this.
In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.
This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
“Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son —except the Father only. As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.
For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. So this is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be:
Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one left. Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.
But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. This is why you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
The culmination of our advent observance and celebration comes to a climax tonight. Our anticipation to celebrate the Lord’s birth is over and here is the hour to celebrate! The Light came, the Light is yet to come.
Our gathering is like many around the world, huddled in community we read and remember the incarnation of God…Jesus is born as a babe. The prophet Isaiah prophesied His coming, but not many recognized Jesus arrival, three magi and some shepherds. Would you recognize His potential return today?
When someone or something is a long time in coming, we can get distracted, discouraged, and lose interest. It takes the devotion to stay the course when things are not working the way we think they ought. Simeon and Anna were rewarded for their hope and persistence in the faithfulness of God. What will my reward be? Will I persist in my hope and trust in the faithfulness of God?
Just as injustice, corruption, and evil ruled in the ancient days of creation and the land of Judah and Israel, injustice, corruption, and evil rule today. But what happend in those ancient days, a renewal, a refresh, a reboot…redemption! Light was born, on a stark night, in the depth of darkness. Light born, to shine, to redeem the hearts of men and women, casting out darkness, in the sacrfice on a cross, and risen to the glory of Heaven and the Father’s side. Do you recognize the hope, and trustworthy faithfulness of God?
A group of twelve men did that has multiplied throughout history to tonight, and will go on tomorrow till the return of Jesus, the Second Advent. Christmas is a marker of the Savior’s birth, when God came to live among men, to offer redemption to a creation that has rejected Him. Christmas is God’s physical incarnational intervention into the destructive behavior of man’s grandizment, the living of a lie…hope found in men and men’s will. Will we recognize the hope, and trustworthy faithfulness of God in Christ, His Incarnation?
Simeon, guided by the Holy Spirit, cradling Jesus, said to Mary and Joseph, “(Your child), is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-and a sword will piece your own soul too” (Luke 2:34-35). Am I opposed to the hope of Christ? To the peace and grace He offers? Never mind using the church and it’s history, as an excuse, “for each of us will give an account to Jesus (for ourselves)” (Romans 14:12), what about Jesus and The Truth?
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him.
He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.
For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross — whether things on earth or things in heaven.
The truth is we need Jesus because we are fallen, less than what we were created to be. We were made in the image of God, to be the image of God on earth, for His glory, for His worship. We were not made to be the image of man, who is fallen and broken. We were made to be whole, holy, hopeful, loving, faithful, and joyful. Of which does our world reflect? Of which does my life reflect? Jesus came to give hope, peace, love, and life. How hopeful, joyful, peaceful, and loving is our life? The Light came to change that, the Light will return to establish that.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.
With the loud trumpet call, angels, and the saints of the age, Jesus is going to return and make His Second Advent the most memorable and cataclysmic in history. No one will forget this coming day, when Jesus will reclaim the world that is His. Light came, light will come, darkness will be destroyed! The cradle led to the cross, which leads to Coming King! Are you ready for the return of Jesus the King! Cradle, Cross, and Coming King - the three signs of the Advent Kingdom of Christ.
The world opposes these signs because they point to Jesus! The question is will you embrace or reject Jesus? Will you receive the Light that has come, will you wait for the Light to return?
I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not remain in darkness.
If anyone hears My words and doesn’t keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
Amen!