Sarah & I would like to share with you one of our "first" traditions (if we can call it a tradition yet). We decided to get an Advent calendar for our Christmas season! 1. Because I don't remember the last time I ever went through an Advent calendar 2. Because it's cool and we live in Seattle 3. Because it's biblical (thought I should add this one). We are celebrating Advent, because the word means "coming," and reminds Sarah & I of the best "coming" there ever was! The arrival of our Rescuer, Jesus Christ!
Day 7! December 7th.
After a wonderfully cold night, including hot chocolate and the Figgy Pudding event in Downtown Seattle, as well as the Gingerbread Village in the warm Sheraton Hotel, Sarah and I came home to celebrate Advent and read through Scripture (this is our most favorite part of the day :-)
Today's reading came out of Luke 1:32-33. "He (Jesus) will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
If you can remember the records and readings from the Old Testament about the kings and rulers of those days, you will realize how different Jesus would be. Jesus wouldn't be like them at all! The kings of the Old Testament all reigned over the house of Jacob, but it was only for a short amount of time compared to the whole history of Israel. Some reigned for months, and some for only a few years. Others reigned for decades and decades. But as all kings do, their reign eventually ended; some peacefully and some tragically.
Jesus however would be completely different. His reign would soon begin and it was never going to end! His kingdom was going to go on forever. Remember what the angel told Mary, "And of his kingdom there will be no end" (Lk 1:33). King Jesus wasn't going to be like any other king over Israel. His reign wasn't going to end; it would go on forever!
And unlike some kingdoms that you want to end, Jesus' kingdom is one that you never want to end. It is filled with feasting, laughter, joy, and life that will never end. There is no more sorrow, no more pain, no more tears. The things that hurt us will be gone, and the things that make us so happy and so thankful will be in Jesus' kingdom. There will no longer be any death and sin will be completely gone. Everything that is wrong will be made right! And everything that is old, damaged, and broken will be made new! Wow! What a kingdom this one will be!
Jesus is a different King and a different Ruler than all the kings and rulers before Him. All of His words are true and good and lovely. All of what He does is perfect and righteous. He cares for His kingdom as the kindest King. He is the first thing there ever was and He will be the last thing standing. He is the good perfect King, who reigns over the best kingdom.
Don't you want to be a part of that kind of kingdom? Doesn't that sound better than all the other kingdoms out there? The one thing that gets you in to this kingdom is by accepting the King of this kingdom, Jesus! He came to be your King and offers you the free gift of His loving rule and reign over you. He is the best King, so wouldn't you want the best King to be in charge? :-)
And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' Also he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.' And he said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.'" Revelation 21:3-7
You can hear this Scripture in song HERE
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