One step closer

The excitement for the arrival of Christmas that I see in my children is contagious and joyful. Not much can beat the smiles that get plastered on their faces when they see the jolly ole’ man in red around town or when they find our resident elf-on-a-shelf, Ocho, every morning of December. It is a fun and wonderful time of the year. 

While my children’s immature minds are, for better or worse, focused on the arrival of someone who comes bearing gifts that have remote controls and doll-sized furniture, the readings for today reminded me of the excitement we - as followers of Christ - are called to have for the return of Jesus Christ. It rekindled the appreciation I have for the gifts God has already delivered and those He promises in the “new heavens and new earth.”

A sense of comfort comes from the fact that I have a calendar on my phone. It provides an accessible and clear picture of what is happening every day and it serves as an atomically correct countdown to Christmas morning. For the sake of making sure Santa’s arrival on Christmas day is “fulfilling” of the wishes and dreams of my children, I set reminders on my calendar for what I am supposed to do each day: put the tree up on December 1, buy presents on this day, deliver gifts on this day, hide Ocho everyday before 7am, etc. Unfortunately, God withholds the timetable for the return of Christ and doesn’t give us an opportunity to completely experience the fulfillment that he promises will overcome us when He returns. The readings for today, however, remind us to be hopeful, trusting, and patient with the plan He has for us. We must remember that “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed” in a way that is joyful, complete, and eternal. Like a thief who surprises someone who possesses something of value, God will surprise us with His presence at a time when we fully appreciate the value of what we have been given by Him. It will be a wonderful surprise.

We have an Advent calendar in our house that, like you would expect, ends on the day that we celebrate Christ’s birth. The excitement for Christmas builds and builds with every passing day. The readings remind us to think of life in a similar way - we are one step closer to “the day of the Lord” with each passing day. God is good and His kingdom is wonderful!

Author: Ben Kirby, Asst. Principal for Academics