For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. [1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 (NLT)]
For Christians, the four weeks before Christmas are the season of Advent: a season as much about preparing for Christ’s second coming as it is about preparing to celebrate His first. Having recently purchased a baby gift, I couldn’t help but see similarities between the way expectant parents prepare for the advent (coming) of their new baby and we prepare for the advent (coming) of Christ.
Wanting to give her baby the best possible start, the mother-to-be is cautious about what goes into her body. She adds pre-natal vitamins, stops drinking alcohol, gives up junk food, and shuns risky foods like sushi, alfalfa sprouts, and brie. In the same way, as we prepare for Christ’s coming, we should take these weeks to improve what we put into our minds—the things we listen to, read, watch, and stream. Are they as worthless as junk food’s empty calories or as unsafe as smoking or drinking unpasteurized cider are for the expectant mother and baby she carries?
In preparation for their baby’s arrival, the expectant mom and dad eagerly read all about child care and attend birthing, parenting, and infant CPR classes. We should be as intent on learning about Jesus as new parents are about babies. Advent is a good time to start!
Knowing that life will be different once their baby comes, the soon-to-be parents give serious thought to their priorities and the sacrifices to be made. Midnight feedings will replace date nights, designer handbags are swapped for a diaper bag, and a full night’s sleep will become a thing of the past. Carpets will be cleaned, the office or extra bedroom becomes the nursery, while cabinets, corners, and sockets are baby-proofed.
The four weeks of Advent are the time for Christ’s followers to prepare room in our hearts for Him. As we prepare for the coming of the Christ child, like expectant parents, we might reflect on any changes or sacrifices that we should make so Christ can make His home with us. Rather than baby-proofing, do we need to do a little sin-proofing? As we clean house in preparation for the holidays, we might want to clean our hearts of things like greed, pride, or resentment so there’s room for the King.
Once they know a baby is coming, I doubt that a day passes without the parents-to-be thinking about its arrival. Advent should be a season when Christ is first and foremost in our minds, as well. Just as a woman in her 40th week of pregnancy yearns for her baby’s arrival, we yearn for Jesus to arrive and straighten out the mess we’ve made of His world.
The expectant parents have a good idea of when their baby will come and, while we know when Christmas will arrive, only God knows the date of Christ’s second coming. Nevertheless, Jesus told us that, like labor pains, there would be signs—things like wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution, conflict, economic turmoil, and deception. Considering today’s news, it’s not surprising that 39% of Americans (and 47% of American Christians) think we are in the end times right now. Then again, chaos and trouble are not unique to the 21st century. The early church thought Jesus would return and usher in God’s Kingdom in their lifetimes and I suspect Christians throughout the centuries have thought they were living in the end times. We don’t know if we’re living in the last days but, like those soon-to-be-parents, we know for sure that He will arrive whether we’re ready or not!
The immense step from the Babe at Bethlehem to the living, reigning triumphant Lord Jesus, returning to earth for His own people – that is the glorious truth proclaimed throughout Scripture. As the bells ring out the joys of Christmas, may we also be alert for the final trumpet that will announce His return, when we shall always be with Him. [Alan Redpath]
Devotions of the Heart 