Advent: Longing for a King, Anticipating a Kingdom
Providence Church’s Advent series for 2019: Remembering the promises fulfilled by Jesus.
Advent is a time we slow down and anticipate the coming of Christ, but what does that mean? Why is this important? Jasey Christensen, Providence’s short-term missionary and volunteer explores what Advent is and why we should consider observing it this Christmas season.
By Jasey Christensen, Providence short-term missionary and volunteer
“How has your heart been longing for Jesus?”
For many people, December is the busiest month of the year and this question is (ironically) the last on everyone’s mind. There are presents to buy, parties to plan, and family gatherings meant to be joyful that feel more like a burden than a blessing. If you’re anything like me, it is easy to miss what celebrating Christmas is all about: celebrating of the birth of a perfect Savior who was born in a lowly manger, only to die for the sins of all mankind.
But in the thick of all this craziness, how can we shift our focus from robotically checking off everything on our to-do list to intentionally longing for Jesus and His coming kingdom? This is the whole purpose of the season of Advent.
Advent Explained
Advent is typically celebrated by the Church all of December and is meant to be a time of heart preparation and building our anticipation for Christ’s coming. Not only are we celebrating His coming as a baby, but also celebrating the hope we have in His second coming that has yet to happen.
“Celebrating Advent isn’t a defining trait that makes you a “good Christian”...
Advent does provide an opportunity to refocus, zoom out, and turn our hearts in a way that brings us closer to our God. ”
But WHY is it important for us as Christians to celebrate advent?
Biblical Importance
In Isaiah hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, His coming was predicted. Isaiah 9:5 says, “A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And He will be our ruler. He will be called, “Wonderful Counselor,” “Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,” “Prince of Peace.”” The people of Israel always longed for a king to bring them into glory and rescue them from their troubles. Imagine how much their anticipation grew when this prophecy happened! During Advent, we are to build that same kind of anticipation and desire for a king who will rescue us and bring us back into a relationship with Him.
What Advent Isn’t
“...when we re-center our minds on God, we realize that His plan is much bigger than our own.”
Celebrating Advent isn’t a defining trait that makes you a “good Christian” and by no means does choosing not to consciously observe it mean you are less than your brother or sister who does. But, Advent does provide an opportunity to refocus, zoom out, and turn our hearts in a way that brings us closer to our God. And, when we re-center our minds on God, we realize that His plan is much bigger than our own. He has a bigger, far more glorious plan for us, and I think during this busy time, we often forget that each of us is just one thread in His amazing tapestry.
Reflecting on Advent today
Providence, can we take time today and ask yourself the original question: “How has your heart been longing for Jesus?” Remember that God fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah and paints us a beautiful picture of the hope Jesus gave the world. “She will bear a son and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save the people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21, ESV). Through Jesus' first coming as a child, He restored us in relationship with God and has adopted us into His family. This means that we now have the privilege to anticipate His second coming and see the promise of His eternal kingdom come to fruition.
So take a deep breath, step back from the list, presents, food, parties, and remember what the Lord has done for you. I pray that we as a church have hearts that long for the coming of our King and anticipate the kingdom He has in store for us.