Advent reminds us to be ready

Advent is defined as “the arrival of a notable person, thing or event.” As of Dec. 3, we are fully in Advent. Advent also marks the beginning of the church calendar, which consists of the four weeks before Christmas. Now this is not to be confused with the 12 days of Christmas. Those start on Dec. 26, and end on Jan. 6, or Epiphany (we’ll talk more about that later).

Now, we are approaching the first week of Advent. We are looking forward to all three, the arrival of a person, thing, and event.

You see for so long, Israel had been looking for relief from their oppressors. In their history, they were always fighting someone. Someone was always trying to defeat them or subdue them or destroy them. They were looking for the promise that God gave through the prophets. Hope was all they had. We know that hope was fulfilled on a cold night in December, around 6 B.C.E. A little baby was born who is the Son of God, Emmanuel, God with us. Yet, even with all the prophecies and signs, they didn’t see it coming.

I’m afraid we may be in the same boat.

Christ promised His return. He promised he would come in the clouds with great power and glory. Mark 13:24-37 has a pretty good description of what to look forward to — we just don’t know when it will happen. This is the reason I am writing to you today.

How are you spending the time we have? We are in wait mode, so how are you waiting? Are we getting ready for Christ’s return, or are we counting on Him not coming today? Just to be clear, I’m not here to preach about tribulation or the end times — I’m just concerned that maybe we have all gotten a little complacent when it comes to the Kingdom of God. I mean, let’s face it, it has been almost 2,000 years since Christ rose into heaven.

But that is the point. We have had time to build the Kingdom. He has given us plenty of time to be ready for His return, yet how many of us are going to be caught unawares and sleeping? When Christ returns, we will have no excuse for not being ready.

Advent is the reminder to be ready. We don’t want to be caught flat-footed like the Israelites were when Christ was born. We need to be about making everything ready for the coming King. We are closer to Christ’s return than we have ever been. It is imperative that we share the Good News of Christ, to love our neighbor and prepare the way of the Lord.

There is too much at stake and too many souls that could be lost. As John F. Kennedy once said, “We need to use time as a tool, not as a couch.” We need to get busy.

Just a thought.

Shalom my friends. See you in church.

Rev. Kent Wilfong is the pastor at the United Methodist Church, Doniphan/Neelyville.