Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK
Dec. 13, 2011

Daily Ornament!
A Week of Joy: Tuesday, Day Seventeen of Advent

“God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our king, sing praises.” – Psalm 47:5-6

Gospel Reading: Matthew 24:32-44
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” – Matthew 24:44

“Not knowing when Jesus will return should not produce fear in us. Not knowing keeps us from unnecessary worry. What is important is that Jesus said He would return, and He teaches us that His words will never pass away (Vs. 35). We can trust Jesus that what He says will happen.” (Illuminate, pg. 51)
The 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).
Jesus is coming again! We can be sure of that—REJOICE!!
Pastor J. T. Carnell