I love advent calendars. They’re so fun! This year, I’m enjoying two simultaneously – one for chocolate and one for tea – and the combination is absolutely divine.
In addition to the daily treats though, I think what I like most about them is the “countdown” element. With each passing day, the wait until Christmas grows shorter. The buildup is part of the excitement as I keep my eye on the final destination: Christmas (celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ).
Apart from Christmas, what are some other things you’re waiting for… in life?
I’m reading through the Gospel of Luke in the runup to Christmas and am really intrigued by the story of Simeon and Anna. For those who may not be familiar, in Luke 2:22-38, we learn that when Jesus was still a child, he was presented at the temple in Jerusalem (according to the Law of Moses) to offer a sacrifice. While there, the Holy Spirit moved a man named Simeon and a prophetess named Anna to recognise Jesus as the long-awaited saviour that had been promised to bring salvation for God’s people. They were both filled with joy to be able to witness the day of his coming and gave thanks to God. Extra details are provided about Anna and we are told that she was quite old and “advanced in years”.
Together, they are given about a dozen verses of airtime in the Bible, but I can’t help but feel that what was recorded for us was the highlight of their lives.
remember what we are all ultimately waiting for
The people who lived before Jesus were waiting for him to be born. The people who live after Jesus’ death and resurrection (us!) are waiting for him to return. Basically the whole world revolves around him and that is the way it should rightfully be.
Between you and me though, I sometimes – ok, a lot of the time – forget that and find myself distracted by many things. Rather than constantly fixing my eyes on being reunited with him forever in the new creation as my final destination, I get preoccupied with the temporal things of this life.
That perfect job, dream relationship, aesthetically pleasing lifestyle… the list could go on. While we may sometimes be blessed with truly wonderful gifts in this life, the point remains – they are all temporary. Once you die, it’s all over and you can’t take it with you.
But hey, it’s Christmas! Let’s talk about something a bit more uplifting.
For Christians, we know that death is not the end because on the cross Jesus conquered sin and death for us once and for all. The ending we are waiting for is a happy one – we just have to remember to look far enough.
Let’s encourage one another this Christmas to continue to keep our eye on the prize, and remember what we are all ultimately waiting for!
