Advent

How many of us have Advent Calendars, and the accompanying daily chocolate?

Interesting isn’t it? Advent is synonymous with Lent and yet this is the difference between them – for Lent we attempt to give something up but in Advent we excitedly open doors and eat chocolate.

Lent is a time when we aim to cut out the distractions, preparing and making ourselves ready for the work Jesus has for us and for Him to be in our hearts.

Advent is a time when we have to look at our lives and make a choice. Do we accept forgiveness and follow Jesus; preparing and making ourselves ready and cutting out the distractions?

Or do we allow ourselves to get swept up in the commercialism, the busyness, the chaos, the overindulgence, the excess food, the drama, the darkness? It is easy to do – there is, after all, so much of it all around us.

Are we ready?

No, I don’t mean do you have the tree and decorations up, presents and cards all wrapped/written/sent, parties organised, invites sent, that Christmas food shop booked and all the other activities we think of when we use the term festivities.

Are we ready for Jesus?

This passage from Mark* is full of imagery. Jesus was talking in a way that the Jews of the time would understand. There are however, several key points.

The first is that Jesus is foretelling the second coming – that He will come again. He does not know the exact time of His return but He will be returning. This is an excellent example of faith and trust in God. Jesus knows that if God has told Him He will come again that will indeed happen. Jesus does not need to question all the finer details.

Jesus was also foretelling the destruction of the Great Temple in Jerusalem and the fall of Jerusalem. When Jesus says “this generation will not pass away until these things happen” it is this destruction that He is referring to. And this prophecy was indeed fulfilled when Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed in 70AD.

We do not need to doubt Jesus prophecies. We know they will come to pass. We know He will come again.

Jesus likens us to men who know that their master is coming but who do not know exactly when he will arrive. We do not need to be afraid of this. But we must live our lives in a way that means we are ready no matter when He arrives. Every moment of every day becomes a preparation for the moment we meet Him face to face.

The next point is that, of all things, it is most foolish to be so wrapped up in earthly distractions that we forget God. The wise are those who never forget that they must be ready when the summons come, so that, for them, the end will be eternal joy.

“Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. We long for the day, when we will see your face, we will be with you, you as our light.” This prayer sums up waiting for the Lord and the fulfilment of God’s plan. No one waits without a good reason and how long we wait is determined by the reward at the end. Jesus is surely the best reward.

The farmer does not know (exactly) what day the rain will come or the crops be ripened but the farmer knows they will and waits patiently and faithfully, ready and prepared for when that time comes. Likewise, we must wait patiently and trust in God whilst we wait, faithfully and prepared.

But when we are waiting for something how do we wait? Do we fill our lives with distractions and keep busy to avoid the waiting?

We have the chance to wait and change our lives but we miss it by running around. We forget our heart.

Do we use advent as a time to slow down as we prepare for Jesus to be born again in our hearts at Christmas or do we rush around more than ever letting life get more and more hectic?

Advent is a time of preparation and waiting. A time to slow down and open up – opening up our hearts and minds.

Advent is a time for prayer. A time for tradition – by which I mean it’s actual meaning of sharing and passing on belief. It is about going deeper in our personal journey with Christ. It is a chance to reset and ensure we have what we need to be prepared so that we are ready no matter what day or hour He returns. It is a time to stop being complacent. A time to keep relationship with God and work on it; doing God’s will everyday.

Advent is a time to put our hearts right with God and prepare them. Are we ready to use this Advent to prepare ourselves so that we are always ready for Jesus’s return and ready to welcome Him into our hearts once again?

*Mark 13.24-37