Coming Hope

Hope That Brings Peace

Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; Matthew 1:23; 2:2; Luke 2:11-12

With the warmer than normal sunny days it hard to fathom that we are in the last month of the year, December. Nevertheless, the days will slowly transition into a blustery chill as we prepare for old man winter who is sure to arrive. Many of you have probably decorated or at least moved closer to the arduous process of putting up the tree, the decorations, the lights and etc., will be followed by wrapping presents, of course.

With Christmas becoming more and more commercialized there becomes less room for the religious aspect of Christmas and the retelling of the story of the Wise men and the shepherds who came to see the birth of a savior in Bethlehem. Days have since gone where on almost every corner you could relive the grandeur of that faithful night when the Lord God, Himself step out of the eternal and gave Himself over to be as a baby in a manger.

Every year around the same time after Thanksgiving begins what has been celebrated for millennia throughout the age of the Church, and that is Advent, which of course is the coming of the Christ, or the birth of the Savior as we are told in the Gospels. And thus, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophesy “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”” (Isaiah 7:14; Matt 1:23). The wise men from the East are led to Him by the star that appears in the sky, signaling, His birth (Matt 2:2). Luke tells us that an angel of the Lord appeared before the shepherd heralding the birth of “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

As we begin to celebrate His birth, His coming (advent) into the world and the work of redemption that has been accomplished through the Cross by the blood of Christ; we are also reminded that He is also coming back again. The same prophet Isaiah call us also to embrace another advent, not one in which we will find a “baby wrapped in swaddling clothes” (Luke 2:12 NKJV) but rather one, a Prince who will rule and reign from Jerusalem over Israel and all the world “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness, from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:6-7). His very character reveals who He is, what He will do and furthermore how it will take place.; the last verse tell that the Lord God, Himself will ensure that it will take place.

And so, as you celebrate the Christmas season let your hope this year rest in the Advent of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father (King) and the Prince of Peace. And let the light of His Star shine through your heart in this season bringing peace and hope to those that are looking for something better this year, give the gift of peace that only He can give!

Merry Christmas!!