Christmas is a wonderful season to anticipate a glorious future. This is our hope: a glorious future. “…waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:13 ESV) At Christmas we celebrate the first advent of Jesus, but we also look forward to his second advent. The promise of the incarnation of our Lord will be fulfilled completely when he returns in glory.
One aspect of hope is the acknowledgement that we are missing something now. Believers in Jesus are forward looking people. We are waiting for glory. Jesus himself is waiting for the glory of the future. “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.”(Hebrews 10:12-13 ESV) Jesus too has hope. He hopes for the day when his enemies are fully subject to him. The enemies of Christ are still running rampant in God’s kingdom. One great day they will be overcome. Victory in Jesus forever! We wait with Jesus. There is nearly an unending list of things that are missing. We are made for completeness, for wholeness, for shalom, but in this world we have tribulation. Nothing is perfect here. We are reminded of the curse daily. Maybe we are reminded through an illness, through a violent crime, or through a natural disaster. We might carry a deep sorrow everyday. Many sorrow over their children. As it says of David “And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”(2 Samuel 18:33 ESV) This is a deep sorrow. When we are with the Lord forever we will no longer have such sorrows. He will wipe away every tear! We will understand God’s gracious plan.
We long for a day when there is nothing horribly wrong. That day is coming for the believer. All our hopes and longings will be fulfilled in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Just wait for it! Here is the hope stated in bold terms: “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25 ESV)
At Christmastime let us acknowledge our need of God’s hope. Let us draw near to God through Jesus in order to be saved to the uttermost.
Merry Christmas!
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