The daily office readings for today include two very different perspectives on God dealing with his people. His coming. His coming again. Our responses.
So, I have good news and bad news: Jesus will come again.
For the people seeking God, following God, and longing for his coming (in Isa. 60) or his Second Coming (in Rev. 9), there is hope.
“Arise, shine, for you light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isa. 60:1)
Yet, even as I read Isaiah 60 and Revelation 9 with hope and longing, because I do indeed long for his coming again, there is a stark reality. It is this:
not everyone is excited
In Revelation 9, a third of humanity is wiped out by various plagues and there were still people left not repenting of their life choices. God was cleansing the earth and preparing the way and people were still stiff necked.
Advent is a reminder of the hope of his second coming. It fills me with joy and anticipation… and the harsh reality that not everyone thinks that’s something to get excited about. Advent is not just a time of hope. It is a sobering moment for me as I reflect on humanity. Not everyone hopes. Not everyone wants to hope.
And still, I walk in hope. I long to see him.
Apprentice 2 Jesus 