I know it’s still November, but through the strange magic of the calendar, today is the first Sunday of Advent.
What is Advent?
The name itself means “coming.” This is a clue to the actual meaning because Advent is the celebration of the coming of the Messiah.
The way I learned it (and taught my daughters), Advent is a 4 week celebration of preparation for the coming of the King. It involves all sorts of symbols to help teach the lessons of the season.
- Evergreen boughs – signifying everlasting life
- A wreath in the form of a circle, again pointing to life without end
- Purple candles on the wreath where purple is the color of royalty
- A white candle in the middle signifying purity
Every year we worked through a litany of questions and answers. After the first couple years, there was no mystery. They knew the answers and couldn’t wait to give the answers.
On each Advent Sunday, we light a candle and learn the story that it has to tell.
This week, the first week, we light the Candle of Prophecy.
To learn about this candle we must go back into the Old Testament to see how the prophets foretold the coming of the King:
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of the Promised One. For many years, centuries that’s all people had to go on. A promise that God would one day take action and send a Savior.
Today, we look back upon His gift with gratitude. No longer do we need to wait or wonder about God’s plans. We see it as history. We know that God was good to His word and did take action. We see what Jesus did in the sacrifice that settled the debt of sin.
Today we are blessed above those who only had the words of the prophets to stoke their faith. We have the full action o f redemption in view.
So we need to live like it. Not lives of timidity and questioning, but lives of confidence and power.
Remember Isaiah 9:6-7 this week. Think about the prophecy, God’s promise, of a Savior and let it inspire your faith in action.
Blessed Advent,
Dennis
