The Advent Adventure- 18 Days to Christmas: Hope in a Second Advent!
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“We are filled with hope, as we wait for the glorious return of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Titus 2:13 (CEV)
The first advent of Christ in Bethlehem promises hope in the second coming of Christ! The apostle Paul was so convinced of Jesus’ return that he wrote this to a young pastor named Titus to encourage him in Titus 2:13 (CEV), “We are filled with hope, as we wait for the glorious return of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Anticipating the second coming of Jesus Christ should fill our hearts with hope! We were not made for this world. Jesus is coming again to take us home. Then, following a period of tribulation on earth that will last for seven years, the Bible says Jesus is coming again and we will return with Him as He establishes His rule and reign in the millennial kingdom here on planet earth. Some have referred to this 1,000-year period as “The Golden Age!”
The writer of Hebrews speaks of the second advent of Christ in Hebrews 9:28 (NIV) and says, “So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.”
Paul calls this advent the “glorious return of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Unlike the first advent or appearance of Jesus, when He comes the next time, it will not be to bear sin. He did that when He came the first time and offered His life as a sacrifice for our sins on the cross. When He returns again, Jesus will complete salvation at that time. You see, our salvation involves the past, present, and future. There are three tenses to our salvation – We have been saved, we are being saved, and we shall be saved. Theologians use three words to describe these tenses: justification, sanctification, and glorification. When I am justified, I am saved from the penalty of sin. In sanctification, I am being saved from the power of sin, and one day, at that second advent, I will be saved from the very presence of sin; that’s glorification! All of this and heaven, too! No wonder Paul told Titus that we are filled with hope as we wait for His glorious return!
What will it be like when He comes again? What will we be like when we see Him face to face? The apostle John tells us in 1 John 3:2 (ESV), “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.”
What a great day that will be! Until that day, keep looking up! God isn’t finished with you yet. Let the anticipation of His second advent fill your heart with hope! It will be a glorious appearing!
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.