The Season Of Advent
By Pastor Kathy Behrens, serving Picture Rocks and Tivoli United Methodist Churches
The Epistle of Romans tells us to wake up from our sleep (Romans 13:11). Right now, all of us need to wake up, like flowers that are waiting for spring, so we who are waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ need to get out of our slumber. In some cases, our slumber has already been awakened. It happened when someone we love, such as a friend or family member, dies, and we get in touch with the loss and how real it is. We are preparing for our time by realizing that every one of us could pass at any time. The Advent season is a time when we prepare for the coming of the Christ child. While we celebrate his birth, we also await not just a child who we need to be preparing for, but for the Second Coming of the Christ.
Most of us wake to the playing of Christmas music, while others decorate trees and their homes or even cars. Still others start their shopping as they prepare for the holiday.
A man went to his company’s director of personnel and asked her how many people were approaching retirement, to which the director responded, “Everyone of them!” In the case of our scripture, it is saying that salvation is closer to us than before. “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (NIV). That, like the retirement statement, is accurate because every day we live brings us one step closer. In most of our cases, we became believers several years ago. Our lives are constantly moving on toward retirement and/or death, so we need to be preparing for those moments. Then, we should wake up from our sleep and start meeting the challenges of a new day. The Apostle Paul says, “Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12b). In other words, we are being told to quit doing evil or the works of darkness. We are children of light; therefore, we wear the armor of light. We are also supposed to wear the armor of light where we go and can be seen by others. The Apostle Paul addresses that by saying that we need to live honorably as in the day. We who are the children of light should not be reveling or drunk. We are not to be living in debauchery, which means “excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.” Nor are we to be living in licentiousness, which according to Merriam-Webster is lacking “legal or moral restraints,” or in other words, if it feels good, do it (Romans 13:13). We are also cautioned to not quarrel or be jealous (16:17).
For some people, this is the time of year for parties and celebrations. They love getting drunk and getting high. In the process, they are not preparing themselves to receive salvation if they have not received it already. What about you? Have you received salvation or, better yet, do you want it? Think about it, and then talk to God. Amen.