Good Shepherd News

Dearly Beloved in Christ,
On this first Sunday of Advent as we begin a new Church year the readings remind us, as they do on this Sunday every year, of our sure hope that Christ will return. We live between the times: between the first and second coming of Christ. Both the Old and New Testaments are replete with references to this promised day which is also called: the day, the day of the Lord, the day of Christ, the parousia, the day of judgment, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When Christ returns history as we know it will end. Just as there was a beginning to history there will be an end and a new beginning.

When Christ returns evil will be completely eradicated. The power and penalty of sin were removed because of the first coming of Christ. The presence of sin will be removed when he returns: "swords [will be] beaten into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks, nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:5.)

When Christ returns he will judge the world: "the Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son" (John 5:22). It will be a day of disaster and judgment for God's enemies and salvation and deliverance for the faithful of the Lord: "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life." (John 5:24) "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)

When Christ returns he will restore all things: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away .... He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away ... and the one who was seated on the throne said, 'See, I am making all things new." (Rev 21:1, 4, 5) Not just a new heaven and a new earth but we will receive the same resurrected body as Christ's: "we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body" (Phil 3:21); "Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." (1 Cor 15:51-54)

When Christ returns his true kingship will be revealed: "every knee shall bow, whether in heaven or on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord." Willingly or unwillingly all of humanity will acknowledge the Kingship and Lordship of Christ.

The early church waited expectantly for this day. The last book of the Bible ends with these words: "He who testifies to these things says, 'surely I am coming soon' Amen. Come Lord Jesus!" It was the constant prayer of the early church "Maranatha!"

Have we forgotten to pray for the Lord's return? Have we forgotten to wait expectantly for that day? Have we forgotten to be constantly prepared for the day of our Lord Jesus Christ? Have we even begun to doubt the words of the prophets and apostles? Peter knew we would: "I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come ... they will say 'where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation' ... but do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." (2 Pet 3:1013)

We do not know the day or the hour of the Lord's return - all we know is that he will. It is a day to look forward to - a day when our Beloved returns to make all things new, to be with us forever. How will he want to find us? How would we want to be found by him?

Grace, Peace, and Love in our Lord Jesus Christ
Rev'd Sarah+