Hope Advent – Part 1
“The people that
walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the
shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” “For unto us a child is
born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and
his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the
increase of his government and peace there shall be no
end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to
establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform
this.” Isaiah 9:2, 6-7.
Advent for 2019
starts this Sunday, December 1. The word
Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “arrival” or
“coming.” Advent is a reminder of how
the world waited for the Messiah and how Christians wait for the second coming
of Christ today. There are four weeks of
Advent and a different theme for each week. The themes are hope, faith, joy, and
peace.
As we begin this
season of preparation that looks forward to the celebration of Christmas and
the second coming of Christ, let’s examine our hope. Isaiah prophesied that those that “walked in
darkness have seen a great light,” that great light is our hope! That “great light” is the child that was born,
the son that was given. His name is
called “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace.” J esus said in John 8:12“… I am the light of the
world: he that followeth me shall not walk
in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Our hope is Jesus Christ. Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:1“…of
God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.”
The Messiah was
to give hope. Isaiah described that hope
in chapter 61, summarizing he said the Messiah would: “preach good tidings, bind up the
brokenhearted, proclaim liberty, comfort all that mourn, give beauty for ashes,
and turn mourning into joy.” That is
hope.
We also look
forward to the return of Jesus with a settled hope. “Looking for that blessed
hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus
Christ;”Titus 2:13.We do not doubt our hope in
Christ. Hebrews 6:19 says, “Which hope we
have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into
that within the veil;”
As we begin the
Advent season, let us celebrate the “coming” of the babe in the manger,
however, let us not forget that He is coming again.
Elder Tim White
Ider, Alabama
