Are We Nearly There Yet?

so I long for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1, NLT). 

 

“Then he [Jesus] said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven…” (Matthew 18:3, NLT).

 

While easy to make jokes of childhood impatience, perhaps – just perhaps – this impatience, or longing, for an anticipated event is one of the characteristics God values. As we enter the season of advent (from the Latin adventus meaning ‘coming’) whom of us is not touched by the raw excitement and barely contained anticipation of a child waiting for Christmas? If you are in any way like me, part of you would love to rewind the clock to feel that longing again.

 

And that is the very simple point of this meditation. Advent, and particularly the first week of advent, is about waiting and longing. Clearly, we are waiting to celebrate the 2000^th-odd anniversary of the birth of Jesus – even if our children are waiting for pretty lights, Father Christmas and presents. Both of these are good in themselves, but they should never be enough.

 

The Latin adventus is a translation of the Greek word parousia which is commonly used to refer to the second coming of Jesus Christ. So even as we wait to celebrate the past occurrence of the birth of a very particular baby, we are also waiting for his future return. A return that will usher in a new era. We do not know what that era will look like, although we are given a few glimpses – “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:3-4, NLT).

 

No more death or sorrow or crying or pain? That sounds worth waiting for to me, even worth longing for. Are we really waiting and longing? Do we have the time?