The Night is Almost Gone
The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Romans 13:12-13
The imagery used in our Advent services reflects what Paul writes in verses 12 and 13 of this chapter of Romans. Paul writes “the night is nearly over; the day is almost here.” Each Sunday in Advent we light a candle until finally we light the Christ candle. Darkness is dissipating and The Light of the World comes to us through His infant birth, and He will come again and eliminate all darkness for eternity.
Advent - meaning “coming”, is observed in our church as a time of preparation for and an expectation of the Nativity of Jesus, or Christmas. That’s certainly part of the story.
The word Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus which is a translation of the Greek word parousia. This word is used in scripture to refer to the Second Coming of Christ. So, the season of Advent might be seen with two expectations of coming. For believers it is indeed the celebration of the Nativity. It is also waiting with expectation for the return of Christ from heaven where He currently sits at the right hand of the Father.
As Christians, we are to put faith and trust in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. This faith allows us to reflect Christ to the world. Like Jesus we are to be honest, respectful of others, live a life of service, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. This is the fulfilment of God’s perfect law. Living in the world as we do, we are expected to abide by the established regulations of our appointed governments, but we are also to always remember our true citizenship is in heaven. It is from this knowledge that we eagerly wait for Jesus to come again.
Advent can remind us that the church has, for more than two thousand years, been in anticipation mode of Christ’s return. Each day we inch closer to that promised return, and I think Paul here is telling us to prepare our hearts, to set aside sinful behavior, and to instead clothe ourselves in the amour of light that is the Lord Christ. In this advent season my hope is we recognize that allowing God into our lives is transformative. Hearts and minds renewed – set toward activating Christ in the world. Let us strive to walk in Spirit and truth and turn away from anything that dishonors the name of the Lord.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Calvary where finished the work of salvation was accomplished. I know that I am in a spiritual battle but it’s a battle that is won as I abide in Christ and He in me. Keep me from falling into living my life in my own strength. Help me to put on the Lord Jesus in spirit and truth. In Jesus’ name I offer my prayer, AMEN.