Welcome to "Tuesday Morning"—a weekly celebration of hope and encouragement for Christians everywhere.

 

I am writing this on Monday. It is a cold, blustery day in Oklahoma. The wind is blowing out of the northwest, from the Rockies after descending from Canada. The wind chill this morning was zero, with the actual temperature near 20 degrees Fahrenheit. They say that precipitation is falling high in the sky, but it will not reach the ground because the air is so dry at ground level. Inside our home the temperature is toasty warm. Central heating keeps the rooms of our house at approximately the same temperature. We will "pay" for this comfort when our next bill arrives from Oklahoma Natural Gas in a few weeks. 

 

My mind is on Advent today. Last night our church put on a musical they called "An Oklahoma Christmas." It featured a full orchestra, a choir of near one hundred, smaller groups of singers, the pipe organ, and music both traditional and contemporary. What a grand introduction to Christmas. But today my mind is on Advent. We call Christ's birth the First Advent. But "first" in anything calls for a "second." And there will be a Second Advent someday. It is toward that advent that all true believers look with anticipation and hope. Jesus is coming again. Praise his name.

 

In his three-act drama, "Ulysses," playwright/poet Stephen Phillips (1868-1915) told the story of a woman named Penelope who was separated from her husband, Ulysses, who had left to fight in a foreign war. Years passed, and no word was received about the missing husband. A multitude of suitors tried to persuade Penelope to abandon her hope for the safe return of Ulysses, but she remained true to the memories of her husband. Phillips portrayed her in the following poetic lines:

 

True to her vision, steadfast to a dream,

Indissolubly married to remembrance.

 

Eventually, as the story goes, Ulysses returned home and approached Penolope as if he were a suitor, dressed not as a soldier but as a beggar. He disguised himself in order to see if Penelope had been true to him during his absence. As he bowed to her, he revealed his true identity as the lost husband, and Penelope's fidelity was rewarded.

 

This is a picture of what the Church should be today—steadfast to a dream of her Savior, Jesus Christ, returning someday in majesty and glory. So, while we celebrate the First Advent in the days leading up to Christmas, let us remain faithful to our calling as followers of Jesus—"indissolubly married to remembrance" about his return.

 

Today's epistle is entitled "Two Advents—One Christ." It is attached below. Continue reading whenever you are ready, and then watch for His return. He is coming soon.

 

Tom Barnard

A Senior Encourager

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Two Advents—One Christ

Tom Barnard

 

he Bible tells a story about two “comings” of Jesus Christ—two advents, one finished, one yet to come. Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of both. As Christians everywhere are preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, let us not forget that the First Advent made it possible for us to celebrate the Second Advent, the return of Christ in glory and splendor.

 

The First Advent consisted of the events of Jesus’ birth—his “arrival” on earth. It was not a very well-attended event—a few shepherds, Mary and Joseph, and the infant Jesus. The place of his birth was a shelter where animals were kept and fed. Luke wrote, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger” (2:7).

 

The First Advent was an introduction. It was a modest, humble beginning. The Second Advent will be a coronation. The presence of angels marked the First Advent as God-ordained. But everything about his Second Advent will mark the event as God-ordained. It will not be a modest event—it will be massive. It will not be to a group of shepherds in a field near a small town in Palestine; it will be gigantic and will be witnessed world-wide. It will celebrate Christ’s triumphant return to earth in judgment and glory.

 

Jesus himself described his return. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory” (Matthew 25:31).

 

In his first coming, Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes, a helpless infant placed in a hay trough. In his second coming he will be clothed in garments fit for royalty.

 

In his first coming, he was surrounded by cattle and common people. In his second coming he will be accompanied by the armies and angels of heaven.

 

In his first coming, his arrival was announced by angels to a handful of shepherds. In his second coming his arrival will be announced by heaven’s trumpets blasting and an angelic host singing, filling the world with the sounds of his coming. “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Mt. 24:27).  In the Revelation, the apostle said, “Behold, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him” (1:7).

 

In his first coming, his voice was the tiny cry of a baby. In his second coming, his voice will thunder so loudly that it will be heard at once by people everywhere around the entire world.

 

In his first coming, he was known as the son of Nazareth’s carpenter. In his second coming he will be called the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. Of him, the apostle John wrote, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Rev. 1:8).

 

The Jacobites of Scotland never met one another on the mountain paths, never sat down to a table of council and conference, without lifting a cup to pledge the return of their king and prince, Charles. At length Charles came back, only to bring to Scotland defeat, disaster, and suffering. In every celebration of the Lord’s Supper, since that last and first night in the Upper Room, the followers of Christ have lifted the sacramental cup as a token of their faith that their King shall come. That is the meaning of those words which we hear so often that we forget their deep import: “As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” Till he come! And when he comes he shall come not to bring pain and suffering, as did King Charles to unhappy Scotland, but to bind up all wounds, to set at liberty the captives of sin, to wipe away all tears from their eyes.—Clarence Edward Macartney

 

Jesus is coming again. We can be sure of that! Rejoice!