The Coming of the Lord

There aren’t as many “signs” in Suwon that Christmas is here as I am accustomed to seeing around this time of year. I haven’t taken in many Christmas trees or displays or blow-up snow globes or the like. No one has spoken about attending parties or driving to see lights or completing shopping lists. Some students will actually attend school on Christmas Day. In a way, it makes it hard to believe that the holiday is upon us. In another sense, it is a good chance to focus on Christ, without all the consumerism.

I remember a few years back in China, when I similarly had opportunity to think on the “reason for the season” without all the distractions of holiday busyness. I read the history (as in, His story) of Christmas from the Bible, and I became fascinated (as I am still) with the kinds of people who were blessed to see the first coming of our Lord.

Beginning in Luke 2:8-20, the angel comes to share the birth announcement with the shepherds. What kind of people were they? They who were awake and alert. As we are told, they were up all night, tending their flocks. In the dark of night, there were not many who would be ready to receive the news. The shepherds were the exception.

Moving on in Luke 2:22-35, Jesus is presented in Jerusalem. There the family meets Simeon. What kind of man was he? He who held fast to the promises. He was filled with joy to encounter the newborn Christ. He had been told by the Spirit that he would not taste death before he had seen Him. He had waited with expectation.

Following on in Luke 2:36-38, Anna shows up at the Temple. What kind of woman was she? She who remained faithful. She was simply doing what she did daily—coming to worship with prayer and fasting. In her faithfulness, she was blessed to see the Christ. She began singing in exaltation.

A while after, in Matthew 2:1-12, the Wise Men came to visit. What kind of people were they? They who looked for the signs. The Magi had studied the scriptures diligently and had watched the stars closely. When the time finally arrived, they rejoiced exceedingly.

When studying on, I get the feeling that the same kind of people who witnessed the first coming of the Lord will also rejoice at His second coming.
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I received a wonderful newsletter from my friends Jim and Margie this week. In it, they beautifully summed up the larger story of Christmas: “It is about Emmanuel coming to earth as a baby—about Jesus growing into manhood among His creation—about God’s Son walking toward Golgotha even from His first steps. It is about God’s plan of the ages—Jesus came to die for our sins—and conquer death with an empty tomb. That’s what it’s about.”

Indeed, the infant in the manger lived to become the crucified Savior. Now, He is the exalted Christ, and He will come again to judge the living and dead. This time, He will arrive in power, on a white horse, as King of kings and Lord of lords…and the Prince of peace will make war and achieve final victory over the forces of darkness.

What is clear from the Bible—we will all witness this coming. Every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Philippians 2:10). Yet who will rejoice?

Those who are awake and alert. “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42). What will we be found doing on that day? Are we preparing, right now, in this moment, for His arrival?

Those who hold fast to the promises. “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promises, as some count slowness. Do we believe that every word will be done (and should be done) as it is written?

Those who remain faithful. “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls” (Hebrews 10:39). Will we keep growing in grace and knowledge, encouraging and building one another up daily?

Those who look for the signs. “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth…Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:25-28). Surely, no man will know the day or the hour. Nor is it for us to know the times or the seasons. He will come like a thief in the night. But as Paul writes: “You are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:4). Will we be ready?

In speaking about the second coming, Paul and Peter allude to the days of Noah. Noah didn’t know the exact day of the flood. But surely the ark would first be completed, and he likely knew to close the door only when he saw the first drops of rain. Until that point, he simply “did all that the Lord commanded him”—and kept building and preaching.

Since all these things are thus…what kind of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God…? (2 Peter 5)

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas—as together we celebrate His first coming, while awaiting the next! Blessings ~ Paul