Advent is a season grounded in hope, and holy anticipation. It invites believers both to look back with gratitude on Christ’s first coming, and to look forward with confidence to His promised return. Rooted in both Old and New Testament revelation, Advent resonates with God’s people across history; those who waited for the Messiah to come as well as those who now wait for Him to come again.
Long before the birth of Jesus, the prophets spoke of a Savior who would bring light into a world darkened by sin. Isaiah foretold, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light… For a child is born to us, a son is given to us” (Isaiah 9:2, 6 NLT). This was not simply a poetic vision but an unshakeable promise given to a weary people who had every earthly reason to despair. In the same way, Advent today invites believers to have that same posture of hope, one that trusts God’s promises even when circumstances seem slow to change.
The Old Testament is filled with this spirit of longing. The psalmist cries, “I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word” (Psalm 119:81 NLT).
Believers today echo this cry, reminding us that waiting is not wasted time. It is formative time in which God shapes our desires, strengthens our faith, and deepens our dependence on Him. As finite beings with short existence in time, we get frustrated that the Lord has not yet chosen to return; but we should remember that Israel waited centuries for the Messiah. When the fullness of time came, God acted decisively and beautifully.
In the New Testament, the story begins with quiet and humble scenes. An angel appears to Mary, assuring her, “The Lord is with you!” and announcing that she would give birth to the Son of God (Luke 1:28, 32 NLT). Joseph receives his own divine message: “She will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21 NLT). These simple and direct messages reiterate the promises of old, that God Himself would enter the world to rescue His children.
We observe the Advent season to remember this extraordinary moment when eternity touched time. It also acknowledges that we are still a people who wait. Just as ancient Israel awaited the Messiah’s arrival, believers today await His return and the fullness of His kingdom. Jesus speaks clearly about this future hope: “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:3 NLT). This assurance of His coming again gives Advent a dimension that is forward-looking.
This dual focus on Christ’s first coming and His promised return should shape our spiritual posture during Advent. It should teach us to be awake, attentive, and firmly anchored in scriptural truth. For example, the apostle Paul wrote to the Roman church: “The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here” (Romans 13:12 NLT). So the Advent season reminds us not to fall asleep spiritually, but to live with readiness and integrity.
However, we should note that Advent is not merely a theological concept. It is a lived practice. We need to be prepared! We need to prepare room in our hearts just as the world once prepared room in a stable. John the Baptist’s call still rings true: “Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!” (Luke 3:4 NLT). Preparing the way today may involve repentance, renewed prayer, acts of compassion, or simply slowing down enough to recognize God’s presence in the midst of daily life.
Advent also encourages us to see God’s faithfulness woven through every generation. Zechariah, after long years of personal and national waiting, praised God saying, “He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David” (Luke 1:69 NLT). He was affirming that God does not forget His promises, even when His timing stretches beyond human understanding.
Ultimately, Advent should orient us toward hope, a hope not grounded in sentiment or tradition, but in the unchanging character of God. Jesus is the One who has come and the One who will come again. The prophet Micah proclaimed it centuries before Christ’s birth: “But you, O Bethlehem… a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf” (Micah 5:2 NLT). And in Revelation, Jesus completes the story by declaring, “Yes, I am coming soon!” (Revelation 22:20 NLT).
So, Advent invites us to live between these two declarations with faith, longing, joy, and expectation. It calls on us to celebrate the Savior who came in humility and to await the King who will return in glory. In this sacred season of waiting, we, God’s people, lift our voices with the cry of the church across the ages: “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20b NLT)
Blessings on you and yours,
Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://blog.salvationarmyconcordca.org