What Are We Waiting For?
Gina Moore
Those who had heard the prophecies, in the midst of their oppression, longed for their Messiah. Through the Old Testament prophets, God revealed information about the coming Messiah. Jeremiah said He would be a King from the line of David. (Jeremiah 23:5-6) Micah foretold He would come from Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2) Isaiah said He would be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14) God had promised the birth of a Savior, and years ahead of time, He gave specific details about His coming. Advent is a season of waiting and longing for us too. What do we wait and long for?
A young girl with little notoriety was asked to carry the Savior of the world in her girlhood frame. Her immediate response was, “May everything you have said about me come true” (Luke 1:38). Mary knew the shame of her position, but she believed in what she had been tasked to do. She knew the posture of waiting for the Messiah from her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. So she waited, and she longed for what had been promised.
Our Messiah came down to live in the flesh with us. He died to save us, and now in Heaven, He waits too. He waits for us! May we live in the JOY of that, regardless of all the other circumstances that come in a fallen and cursed world. There can be JOY in a time of uncertainty, chaos, darkness, and sickness as we long for His second coming. He is our Messiah, on the throne, and He is still orchestrating all things, down to the last detail. His end goal is the consummation of His Kingdom and His people. So we wait and we long. What do we wait and long for?
“Joy to the World” is a song we sing at Christmas. But it doesn’t really have anything to do with Christmas. Or does it? “Joy to the World” is a song about Jesus’ second coming. And there is no second coming without a first coming. It’s a song of the fulfillment of what He came to do. Christmas is a time when we look back at the grace accomplished and forward to the grace that was accomplished for our future. It is a song proclaiming the JOY that will be revealed at His second coming. Heaven and nature sing of His coming. The fields, floods, rocks, hills, and plains; His creation speaks of His power and majesty and repeats the sounding joy. Yes, even now, His creation speaks of Him to us! Hearts prepare for His coming. Even now.
His blessings flow over us every day, even as far as the curse is found. (Genesis 3:14-19) That’s how much He loves us. His love is wondrous! So in this season of waiting and longing, may there be JOY!
Psalm 98:4 says, “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!” Because the Lord is preparing a Kingdom for His beloved.
Revelation 21:1-5 says, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
The advent of Christ is a beautiful reminder that God does what He says He will do, down to the last detail. God’s faithfulness to fulfill all He promised in the coming of Christ gives us hope in our own story. He has included us in His story! Just as God promised to send Jesus, He promises to always be with us by giving us His Spirit. And just as He came the first time, in the birth of Jesus, He promises to come again. We can look forward in HOPE and JOY! Joy to the World – the Lord has come. Let earth receive her King!
Let’s talk about it…….
- During the Advent season, how is your family setting their hearts on Christ?
- The prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah down to the last detail. (Read Matthew 1:22, 2:5, 2:15, 2:17, 2:23) Why is this prophecy repeated in Matthew? How does this give us hope for our future?
- How has God been faithful to you in the past? Are you confident that God will also be faithful in your future? Take time to celebrate and share God’s faithfulness during this busy season.
