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. - Romans 13:11
Advent always seems out of place while everything else that is going on around us. While people are rushing toward Christmas shopping with exitement. Sometimes we get so lost in the sentiment and traditions of Christmas that we have difficulty connecting with the themes of Advent. Advent is about waiting expectantly while longing for God to act. However, we must admit that we grow impatient and demand immediate satisfaction.
The first Sunday of Advent finds us not dreaming of the perfect Christmas or searching for a gift for the person who has everything, but rather looking to the future — to the second coming of Christ. Advent begins not with a baby in a manger but rather, looking forward to the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Let us walk our Salvation:
While they were waiting they believed that Jesus would return any day. Much of Paul’s writings reveal the presumption that Jesus would return within a short period of time. Expecting Christ’s return any day, he writes this passage and he mentions this verse 11, The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
We do not have that same sense of urgency today as Paul and the early believers. Nearly 2,000 years have passed and we are still waiting for Christ’s triumphant return. Advent reminds us that our faith is future oriented, moving forward to the future. Too often our focus is on the past, which makes it difficult to think about (ponder) what tomorrow will bring. Just focus on our salvation and the fulfillment of salvation. In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. 2 Cor. 6:2.=In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you. Isaiah 49:8. Luke 2:10-11.
Focus on the time:
On this first Sunday of Advent the apostle Paul encourages us to “know what time it is.” It is time for us to focus on Jesus, refraining from all other distractions commonly associated with Christmas. “Now is the moment for you to wake from sleep,” he writes to believers who might have been going through the motions without realizing the importance of the day.
The people had better wake up and pay attention, “for salvation is nearer to us now than when we first became believers,” Paul writes. We’ve been here before, working our way toward Christmas. It is easy to simply go through the motions, expecting nothing out of the ordinary to happen.
Let us put on the Armor of Light:
The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12
Paul commands us to wake up, pay attention; “the night is far gone,” God is at work in our lives and in our world. We will not want to miss anything due to our inattention.
As we focus or refocus on Jesus we reject the “works of darkness.” There is evil in our world, causing us at times to stumble and fall, yet Paul instructs believers to live in the light of Christ. The light of Christ dispels the darkness. Paul uses the metaphor of suiting up with the “armor of light.” The armor of light will provide protection as we confront the evil powers and injustices of this world. We dress in the armor of light to shine brightly through the darkness of evil. We do so knowing that ultimately Christ will prevail over the darkness of evil.
We strive to follow the positive command to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” rejecting works of the flesh that hamper our relationship with Jesus. Our enemies are “not flesh and blood” but rather the destructive power that enslave and divide people — mistrust, injustice, addictions, thirst for revenge, prejudice, fear, and greed.
Isaiah 9:23 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:4-5
Late on Christmas Day the Lawder family of Atlanta gathers around the Christmas tree. There is one more gift to open, and it’s the one they anticipate the most every year, a plain white envelope. Their daughter-in-law reads the note inside the envelope that states that their parents have supported a local health clinic in the children’s honor. “It’s the best part of the holiday,” one of the sons claims.
“Our parents raised us to believe that giving back is important,” says another son. “We worked at soup kitchens and we always had people over for Christmas dinner who had nowhere else to go.” “They wanted this family to have the kind of day we have,” she says. “When she called to thank them I cried.”
During Advent our focus is on living as the light of Christ, diligently working to help other people. We need to remember whose birthday we are preparing to celebrate — not our own but Jesus’. Jesus certainly had a passion for helping other people. We strive to be like Jesus in all we say and do.
Let us put on the Lord Jesus Christ:
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. - Romans 13:14. “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ” reminds us of our baptisms and our profession of faith. Elsewhere Paul states, “As many of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27). We “put on” so that everything we do, we do as committed disciples of Jesus Christ. Everything we say, we do so as an agent of Jesus. Living out our baptism in this manner often will lead to conflict with the status quo, but we are clothed in the armor of light for protection.
Wake up, pay attention, and put on the “armor of Light” that will transform and change all aspects of our lives, including how we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth in our lives. Advent is about turning to something far better than what is left behind.
The first Sunday of Advent is about waking up from our slumber to pay attention to God’s Word for us as we prepare to receive God’s gift once again. We wait for that glorious day when Jesus shall return. Meanwhile we continue doing those things that Jesus would want us to do, loving and caring for others, confronting evil in our communities and world.
“I do not have the time for this,” muttered Kregg Grippo. Kregg owns a small contracting company in upstate New York. A friend of a friend asked if he could help an elderly woman who lost her home to fire. However, Kregg had second thoughts when he saw the extensive damage to the modest house. “What am I supposed to do,” he thought to himself, “build her a new house?” He did not have the time to build a new house with Christmas only a couple of weeks away.
When he met the elderly woman he discovered that she went to school with his aunt. She told him about the fire and how she could not extinguish it. By the time the fire department arrived it was too late. She told him that she had lived there for sixty years. Kregg asked her where she was staying and she led him to a shed in her backyard. She was sleeping on an old cot covered with afghans. “She should not be staying here,” he thought.
Even though he did not have time he assured her not to worry because he would take care of everything. “You’ll have a new house by Christmas” he promised.
Kregg called everyone he knew, his crew, suppliers, even a competitor or two asking for their help. He asked customers to give him an extension on other projects. Within days fifteen people arrived ready to work. They would donate their time, “Somehow,” Kregg thought, “we’re going to make this happen.” Word spread, the next morning twenty people showed up, then thirty, then a local TV station. The story ran on the evening news. As a result an electrical contractor called offering to help, as did a roofing company, as well as heating supply companies, and carpet suppliers. It seemed everyone wanted to help this woman.
They finished the house on Christmas Eve. The ranch house had new appliances and was furnished with new furniture as well. Some of the workers even bought the woman Christmas presents. “It was the smallest home I’d ever built,” Kregg says, “but it gave me the biggest feeling I’d ever had.”
Advent is that time of year when we celebrate Christ’s birth. But it is also a time of waiting for the fulfillment of God’s final saving act in Jesus Christ, the Day of Salvation, when earth shall be transformed and the kingdoms of this world shall become the Kingdom of our Christ. And there is nothing negative about that.
The apostle Paul asks us if we know what time it is. Our response is that today and every day is God’s time — it is the time for us to get our act together, living in the light, transcending the darkness all around us to celebrate a Savior who can and does change lives. Amen.
