Isaiah 2:1-5
‘Tis the season. The Advent season. The whole world is getting ready for Christmas. Many people are looking for the magic of Christmas. A lot of the preparation focuses on getting the best shopping deals at sales like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Getting ready for Christmas means getting all the shopping done, the presents wrapped, the lights and trees up, and the decisions about where the families will gather and who’s doing the cooking and baking. Some despise the commercialization of Christmas and yet they are also caught up in the expectations of others to celebrate Christmas.
But the Church has historically and traditionally had quite a different perspective on what it means to get ready for Christmas. We can escape the oppressive forces of the commercialization of Christmas when we find the magic of Christmas in the miracle of the gospel. Christmas as you know, is all about celebrating the first time Jesus came into our world. That first time, he came as a baby. That’s why we always talk about Mary and Joseph, “No room at the inn!” the manger scene and the shepherds and the three wise men. Some believe that this is the way we celebrate Jesus’ birthday. And it is, but it is also so much more!
For centuries, this time before Christmas has been called the Advent season because Advent is from the Latin word that means, “coming.” The word “adventure” is related. When we go on an adventure it involves many circumstances that surprise us. We don’t really know what’s coming. In fact, most adventures begin when we thought we were going to do something else, or just stay home, and then, stuff happens. The characters in an adventure story have to take what’s coming and deal with it, to the best of their ability, ready or not. And in a big way, Jesus’ first coming to Earth was the start of a great adventure because the world really didn’t see it coming and was not prepared for it.
The church, on the other hand, is something that exists after the resurrection and before Jesus’ Second coming. So, his first coming is something for which we rightly give thanks as we look for his Second Coming to happen anytime now. Therefore, the Church has historically tied the first Advent (the coming of Christ in the manger at Bethlehem) to the second Advent (the snatching away of the redeemed as seen in 1 Thess. 4:13-18 and the coming of Christ to the earth in Rev. 1:7, 19:11-16).
The season of Advent represents new beginnings. When Jesus came into the world it was new beginning of the gospel message. God had been silent for 400 hundred years. When Jesus comes again it will be the beginning of his Kingdom come on earth in all its fullness. Therefore, the church has seen fit to designate that the first Sunday of Advent shall be the first Sunday of the Christian year. Did you know that the traditional church keeps its own calendar? So for the Church, this is New Year’s Day! The year begins with these reflections on the coming of Christ, works through the prophecies and gospels regarding the life of Christ up to his passion, death and resurrection, and then after Pentecost the rest of the year is called ordinary time, in which the readings focus on the work of the church.
In this case, ordinary is not used in the sense that we usually think of as ho-hum and boring. No, for the church, “ordinary time” refers to the work of the people of God as “ordained” by God, the works he has prepared in advance for us to do in spreading this great good news of the gospel. “Ordinary” refers to our ordination as the people of God.
The first Advent of Jesus Christ set up the hope of believers in the promised second Advent. Our Lord Jesus coming to earth was a history-changing, life-changing event. Had He not come on that night long ago as a babe in the manger, we would not have had the man Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Had he not died on the cross and risen again from the dead, we would know nothing about him and we would have no hope like the hope of his second coming that will usher in the true and everlasting world peace that our hearts long for.
Therefore, the traditional Scripture readings for this time emphasize both the First and Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and our accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life. All four Sundays of the Advent season carry this theme and reflect on four aspects of Advent, which are Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
Advent is also a spiritual journey that Christians take, through the truths of Scripture that point to the birth of Messiah, to a reaffirmation that he has come, is present in the world today and will come again in glory. It mirrors the journey of faith that Christians make after that moment of realization and acceptance of who Jesus is, in that we take that first step of faith in commitment, continue hopefully to walk the road of faith and increasing understanding, and look forward to our destination, which is to be in his presence forever!
The first Sunday of Advent focuses on the renewal of hope. When people of this world think of hope it goes like this. The kids are thinking, “I hope I get everything I asked for.” The grownups are thinking, “I hope the people I am giving gifts to like all the presents they get. I hope the weather is safe for traveling. I hope the family get together is a good, peaceful and joyful one. I hope the turkey comes out all right. I hope I can actually afford to pay for all this!”
But in Christ our hope is not uncertain like that. Hebrews 11:1 Says that “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” And what we hope for in Christ is so much bigger than just a place in heaven. As grand as that is for us as individuals, our hope in Christ is not just about us. It is about a glorious and cosmically scaled new beginning that we get to participate in and enjoy if we pass through the judgment safely.
The biblical text we read is a prophetic one and prophecy is always about a hope for the future. A future that includes judgment of sin. But it is a good hope because it also includes joy and reward for those who are not consumed by the fire of God’s judgment. It even includes warning so that those who hear the prophecy are informed about how to escape the judgment and secure their salvation.
Let’s listen again to the prophetic words of Isaiah 2:1-5, “The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.”
This message is written in the vocabulary of ancient Israel, written before the Lord Jesus came to usher in his Kingdom. So, it speaks of Israel and Jerusalem and the mountain of the Lord’s house. That is the original focal point of God’s earthly kingdom. Today we know that those who believe in Jesus as Savior and King are added to Israel and included as among all the nations that shall stream to worship the one true God. And he shall establish his righteous rule over all the earth.
In the prophecy of Daniel, chapter 2, the Kingdom of God is described as a rock cut out from a mountain that struck a statue of gold, silver, bronze and iron mixed with feet of clay. The rock smashed the statue. Then the rock became a huge mountain that filled the whole earth. That statue represented four earthly kingdoms, or all earthly kingdoms, that could not last forever, each one is eventually replaced by its successor. But in verse 44 God’s word says that the smashing rock represents the Kingdom of God that will come and never be destroyed. It will bring all other kingdoms to an end, but it will itself endure forever. That is the Lord’s mountain referred to in Isaiah.
When Jesus comes again our great hope is that his perfect and peaceful kingdom will be ushered in forever. And it’s not, “Oh I hope that happens.” By faith we know that it will happen. Our hope is certain! For Christians hope is not about what might happen. Hope is about what God say will happen; all goodness, righteousness, love and joy coming to fruition and fulfillment when Jesus returns to put down all rebellion, wipe away every tear, and reign as king forever!
The next line of the prophecy speaks of how the new government will be set up and established. The Lord himself will instruct us about his new and perfect form of government. “Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” Already today we are learning how to live in this new kingdom if we attend to his holy word and allow our lives and even our motives to be changed by learning his ways. We are disciples of Christ if we eagerly desire to know him and make that goal more important than anything else on earth.
Disciples of Christ are the ones who are not seeking position, recognition, or "things." You seek the heart of God! The desire to know Him burns in you. You can talk to us about social things or business things, but our hearts burn when you talk about the Lord or what He is saying. We are like the ones about whom Luke said, "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he [Jesus] talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24:32). Our desires are set on the things of the Spirit. We are saying, "I just want to know God; I want to please Him; I hunger and thirst for the word of the Lord; I want Him to take joy in me for He is the source of my joy." That's all that matters. Our first love is Jesus.[i]
Jesus is king! The prophecy says, “He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!”
That’s the picture of world peace, and of the right kind, not the threat of the coming world order or one world government set up by men and anti-Christ that threatens to rob us of freedom and establish peace by force and regulations oppressing the poor that we know has to come before Jesus comes again. In the coming Kingdom of God there will really be no more war, no dispute about who’s in charge or who ought to be, no more abuse of power, no more need of truth to speak to power because the “Truth,” with a capitol T will be in power. Our God, who is love will not harm or oppress any, but all will rejoice in his holy and righteous rule.
I am certain, by faith in Jesus, that the world will not always be the way it is today. This world is a good place. But it’s goodness is so marred by the evils that overwhelm us with terrorism and war, violence and crime, famine and poverty, even natural disasters, accidental tragedies and sickness and death and even the evil that yet resides on our own hearts, will all be abolished in the coming kingdom of God. The whole creation groans for its redemption and that redemption is drawing near. Generations have believed that we were living in the last days and I believe it too for these days. There may yet be generations in the future who look back at our days and say, “Guess they weren’t the last days because we are still here.” Nevertheless, it is good for us to be ready as if the Lord could come tomorrow! For we do not know the day or the hour. But it will come! Our hope is sure!
Now, are you sure? Have you believed this gospel in order to take great delight in this hope? Do you know yourself to be a disciple of Christ, having gratefully received his forgiveness for your sins through his amazing grace? Are you pressing on seeking the heart of God? Or are you allowing yourself to put God in the back burner so you can be satisfied with the lesser things of this world such as position, recognition, or "things."
Does the desire to know God more and more burn in your heart? If so, then surely you have been given that new life in Christ that seeks him out above all else. Are your desires set on the things of the Spirit? Do you say with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, "I just want to know God; I want to please Him; I hunger and thirst for the word of the Lord; I want Him to take joy in me for He is the source of my joy.”
If you are not sure of these things, perhaps you may even doubt your salvation. Does the idea of God’s judgment scare you? Then let us pray to God for his Holy Spirit to move in and become the deposit guaranteeing your inheritance. Then your hope will be sure, as sure as a gift from the almighty God ever can be. This is the reason the Church comes around every year to remember the advent of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Yes, we joyfully remember his birth that brings us salvation. And this is how we prepare for the second coming of Christ. Our hope is sure!. Let us pray.
‘Tis the season. The Advent season. The whole world is getting ready for Christmas. Many people are looking for the magic of Christmas. A lot of the preparation focuses on getting the best shopping deals at sales like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Getting ready for Christmas means getting all the shopping done, the presents wrapped, the lights and trees up, and the decisions about where the families will gather and who’s doing the cooking and baking. Some despise the commercialization of Christmas and yet they are also caught up in the expectations of others to celebrate Christmas.
But the Church has historically and traditionally had quite a different perspective on what it means to get ready for Christmas. We can escape the oppressive forces of the commercialization of Christmas when we find the magic of Christmas in the miracle of the gospel. Christmas as you know, is all about celebrating the first time Jesus came into our world. That first time, he came as a baby. That’s why we always talk about Mary and Joseph, “No room at the inn!” the manger scene and the shepherds and the three wise men. Some believe that this is the way we celebrate Jesus’ birthday. And it is, but it is also so much more!
For centuries, this time before Christmas has been called the Advent season because Advent is from the Latin word that means, “coming.” The word “adventure” is related. When we go on an adventure it involves many circumstances that surprise us. We don’t really know what’s coming. In fact, most adventures begin when we thought we were going to do something else, or just stay home, and then, stuff happens. The characters in an adventure story have to take what’s coming and deal with it, to the best of their ability, ready or not. And in a big way, Jesus’ first coming to Earth was the start of a great adventure because the world really didn’t see it coming and was not prepared for it.
The church, on the other hand, is something that exists after the resurrection and before Jesus’ Second coming. So, his first coming is something for which we rightly give thanks as we look for his Second Coming to happen anytime now. Therefore, the Church has historically tied the first Advent (the coming of Christ in the manger at Bethlehem) to the second Advent (the snatching away of the redeemed as seen in 1 Thess. 4:13-18 and the coming of Christ to the earth in Rev. 1:7, 19:11-16).
The season of Advent represents new beginnings. When Jesus came into the world it was new beginning of the gospel message. God had been silent for 400 hundred years. When Jesus comes again it will be the beginning of his Kingdom come on earth in all its fullness. Therefore, the church has seen fit to designate that the first Sunday of Advent shall be the first Sunday of the Christian year. Did you know that the traditional church keeps its own calendar? So for the Church, this is New Year’s Day! The year begins with these reflections on the coming of Christ, works through the prophecies and gospels regarding the life of Christ up to his passion, death and resurrection, and then after Pentecost the rest of the year is called ordinary time, in which the readings focus on the work of the church.
In this case, ordinary is not used in the sense that we usually think of as ho-hum and boring. No, for the church, “ordinary time” refers to the work of the people of God as “ordained” by God, the works he has prepared in advance for us to do in spreading this great good news of the gospel. “Ordinary” refers to our ordination as the people of God.
The first Advent of Jesus Christ set up the hope of believers in the promised second Advent. Our Lord Jesus coming to earth was a history-changing, life-changing event. Had He not come on that night long ago as a babe in the manger, we would not have had the man Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Had he not died on the cross and risen again from the dead, we would know nothing about him and we would have no hope like the hope of his second coming that will usher in the true and everlasting world peace that our hearts long for.
Therefore, the traditional Scripture readings for this time emphasize both the First and Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and our accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life. All four Sundays of the Advent season carry this theme and reflect on four aspects of Advent, which are Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
Advent is also a spiritual journey that Christians take, through the truths of Scripture that point to the birth of Messiah, to a reaffirmation that he has come, is present in the world today and will come again in glory. It mirrors the journey of faith that Christians make after that moment of realization and acceptance of who Jesus is, in that we take that first step of faith in commitment, continue hopefully to walk the road of faith and increasing understanding, and look forward to our destination, which is to be in his presence forever!
The first Sunday of Advent focuses on the renewal of hope. When people of this world think of hope it goes like this. The kids are thinking, “I hope I get everything I asked for.” The grownups are thinking, “I hope the people I am giving gifts to like all the presents they get. I hope the weather is safe for traveling. I hope the family get together is a good, peaceful and joyful one. I hope the turkey comes out all right. I hope I can actually afford to pay for all this!”
But in Christ our hope is not uncertain like that. Hebrews 11:1 Says that “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” And what we hope for in Christ is so much bigger than just a place in heaven. As grand as that is for us as individuals, our hope in Christ is not just about us. It is about a glorious and cosmically scaled new beginning that we get to participate in and enjoy if we pass through the judgment safely.
The biblical text we read is a prophetic one and prophecy is always about a hope for the future. A future that includes judgment of sin. But it is a good hope because it also includes joy and reward for those who are not consumed by the fire of God’s judgment. It even includes warning so that those who hear the prophecy are informed about how to escape the judgment and secure their salvation.
Let’s listen again to the prophetic words of Isaiah 2:1-5, “The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.”
This message is written in the vocabulary of ancient Israel, written before the Lord Jesus came to usher in his Kingdom. So, it speaks of Israel and Jerusalem and the mountain of the Lord’s house. That is the original focal point of God’s earthly kingdom. Today we know that those who believe in Jesus as Savior and King are added to Israel and included as among all the nations that shall stream to worship the one true God. And he shall establish his righteous rule over all the earth.
In the prophecy of Daniel, chapter 2, the Kingdom of God is described as a rock cut out from a mountain that struck a statue of gold, silver, bronze and iron mixed with feet of clay. The rock smashed the statue. Then the rock became a huge mountain that filled the whole earth. That statue represented four earthly kingdoms, or all earthly kingdoms, that could not last forever, each one is eventually replaced by its successor. But in verse 44 God’s word says that the smashing rock represents the Kingdom of God that will come and never be destroyed. It will bring all other kingdoms to an end, but it will itself endure forever. That is the Lord’s mountain referred to in Isaiah.
When Jesus comes again our great hope is that his perfect and peaceful kingdom will be ushered in forever. And it’s not, “Oh I hope that happens.” By faith we know that it will happen. Our hope is certain! For Christians hope is not about what might happen. Hope is about what God say will happen; all goodness, righteousness, love and joy coming to fruition and fulfillment when Jesus returns to put down all rebellion, wipe away every tear, and reign as king forever!
The next line of the prophecy speaks of how the new government will be set up and established. The Lord himself will instruct us about his new and perfect form of government. “Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” Already today we are learning how to live in this new kingdom if we attend to his holy word and allow our lives and even our motives to be changed by learning his ways. We are disciples of Christ if we eagerly desire to know him and make that goal more important than anything else on earth.
Disciples of Christ are the ones who are not seeking position, recognition, or "things." You seek the heart of God! The desire to know Him burns in you. You can talk to us about social things or business things, but our hearts burn when you talk about the Lord or what He is saying. We are like the ones about whom Luke said, "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he [Jesus] talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24:32). Our desires are set on the things of the Spirit. We are saying, "I just want to know God; I want to please Him; I hunger and thirst for the word of the Lord; I want Him to take joy in me for He is the source of my joy." That's all that matters. Our first love is Jesus.[i]
Jesus is king! The prophecy says, “He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!”
That’s the picture of world peace, and of the right kind, not the threat of the coming world order or one world government set up by men and anti-Christ that threatens to rob us of freedom and establish peace by force and regulations oppressing the poor that we know has to come before Jesus comes again. In the coming Kingdom of God there will really be no more war, no dispute about who’s in charge or who ought to be, no more abuse of power, no more need of truth to speak to power because the “Truth,” with a capitol T will be in power. Our God, who is love will not harm or oppress any, but all will rejoice in his holy and righteous rule.
I am certain, by faith in Jesus, that the world will not always be the way it is today. This world is a good place. But it’s goodness is so marred by the evils that overwhelm us with terrorism and war, violence and crime, famine and poverty, even natural disasters, accidental tragedies and sickness and death and even the evil that yet resides on our own hearts, will all be abolished in the coming kingdom of God. The whole creation groans for its redemption and that redemption is drawing near. Generations have believed that we were living in the last days and I believe it too for these days. There may yet be generations in the future who look back at our days and say, “Guess they weren’t the last days because we are still here.” Nevertheless, it is good for us to be ready as if the Lord could come tomorrow! For we do not know the day or the hour. But it will come! Our hope is sure!
Now, are you sure? Have you believed this gospel in order to take great delight in this hope? Do you know yourself to be a disciple of Christ, having gratefully received his forgiveness for your sins through his amazing grace? Are you pressing on seeking the heart of God? Or are you allowing yourself to put God in the back burner so you can be satisfied with the lesser things of this world such as position, recognition, or "things."
Does the desire to know God more and more burn in your heart? If so, then surely you have been given that new life in Christ that seeks him out above all else. Are your desires set on the things of the Spirit? Do you say with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, "I just want to know God; I want to please Him; I hunger and thirst for the word of the Lord; I want Him to take joy in me for He is the source of my joy.”
If you are not sure of these things, perhaps you may even doubt your salvation. Does the idea of God’s judgment scare you? Then let us pray to God for his Holy Spirit to move in and become the deposit guaranteeing your inheritance. Then your hope will be sure, as sure as a gift from the almighty God ever can be. This is the reason the Church comes around every year to remember the advent of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Yes, we joyfully remember his birth that brings us salvation. And this is how we prepare for the second coming of Christ. Our hope is sure!. Let us pray.
Comments
Post a Comment