The
forecast said snow. That’s a word we don’t hear often in the south. Especially,
in Alabama. Folks around these parts get a little crazy.
Emotions range anywhere from dread to joy. Me? I get excited! I want all the snow I can get!
Just like a child I
anxiously awaited the snow. I fell asleep in the living room just so I could
glance out the window to catch a peek. I didn't want to miss it! I knew if I crawled in my bed I would
stay there. I might miss the early morning view; the one just before daybreak,
while it is still falling. To me, it is simply magical. My thoughts always
drift to a place where I find comfort. And for a moment my soul feels at peace. The inner child in me is delighted.
I’ve
never really thought a lot about Advent. I guess you could say I’ve just gone
through the motions of doing the devotionals. They spoke to my heart at the
time yet they didn’t seem to stick. But this year, something clicked.
Here I was anticipating the coming of snow. Something that, although is
beautiful, won’t last. It does cover the ugliness of things with a blanket of pure
white. It hides everything, even if it is just for a time. But… it will go
away. What’s underneath the snow will be revealed. It won’t stay hidden
forever.
(Luke
8:17> “For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden
that won’t be made known and come to light.”)
To
me, Advent was for Christmas. It’s a time to anticipate the coming or arrival
of the Messiah. Many Jews eagerly awaited His coming. He just didn’t come like
they had expected. There were no trumpet sounds, no big celebration, and not
even one or two dignitaries present. Those who were there were shepherds and
animals. The shepherds came because during their watch an angel of the Lord
appeared and told them what had happened. Outside of that, they wouldn’t have
known. There would have been no reason for them to. They certainly were not
important; dignitaries they were not! Yet, God chose to reveal His Gift to
mankind to the least among men, first. (With the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God had shown up.) And as for the animals…they smelled!
Surely the Messiah would not be born among smelly animals and unimportant
people. So why in the world would the Jews have expected the Messiah to have
come like He did? They wouldn’t have. The Wise Men knew something extraordinary
had happened. They saw the star. The only problem was they went to where they
thought a baby born as king of the Jews would be – Herod’s home. But the baby
wasn’t there. Even they were caught off guard. Nothing was like it should’ve
been; or so they thought.
In
my anticipation for the snow to come I realized I didn’t anticipate His return
in the same way. I had felt like a child at Christmas with all the excitement
and joy one could feel at the mere mention of snow. I eagerly awaited it and
could hardly sleep. For years I’ve known that Jesus is coming back to reclaim
what is His. Yet, I’d not felt excitement. At least, not like I did with the snow.
Slowly I began to feel sadness. Here I was celebrating the idea of snow and had
yet even thought of celebrating the knowledge of knowing He is coming back. Even though the weatherman
predicted snow, let’s get real; they’ve been wrong about the weather before. Unlike
the weatherman, God’s Word is never wrong. It’s time to wake up and truly
anticipate the right thing, the 100% true thing…He is coming back.
Through
reading more about Advent this year, I’ve learned that we are still looking for
His coming or arrival. This time we know that He will be coming to stay. Everyone
on the face of this earth will know who He
is. There will be no mistake. The long awaited King will have returned. Trumpets
will sound upon His arrival. As for a celebration, well, all of creation has
waited for His returning so you bet there will be one!
Just
like I anticipated the snow that night, this time I am definitely anticipating
His return.
In
awe of Him,
~Vonda
