It’s amazing the contrast in these two descriptions:
Luke 2:12b (HCSB)
“…You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
Revelation 19:11-16 (HCSB)
“Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on His head. He had a name written that no one knows except Himself. He wore a robe stained with blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies that were in heaven followed Him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. A sharp sword came from His mouth, so that He might strike the nations with it. He will shepherd them with an iron scepter. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”
The contrast between the first and second advents of Christ are truly polar. It’s important that we (Christians) are clear when we evangelize during this advent season; that God is both a God of wrath and a God of grace; that He does not mess around regarding the judgement of sin; yet, He is also forgiving and merciful; and that this is why He came.
Christ’s first advent, which we celebrate at Christmas, began with a baby being born in a barn, and it ended with that man dying on a cross for those who repent and trust in Him, rising three days later. Christ’s second advent will be a bit more intense. It will be the full consummation of God’s wrath upon those who are in Adam, and it will be the full consummation of God’s mercy upon those who are in Christ. Everyone who has ever lived throughout history will experience the second advent according to who they are in, either Adam or Christ.
During this advent season, let’s be clear to those around us about who God is and what He did. Let’s remind everyone about the first advent: why God came as a baby and then died as a man on the cross, rising three days later, 2,000 years ago in Palestine:
John 3:16-21 (HCSB)
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”
May His work in us (Christians) be clearly seen this advent season.
Happy Christmas!
And Godspeed, to the brethren!
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