"O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel."
The lyrics of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” serve a dual purpose, aptly applying both to Israel’s hope for Christ’s first coming and also our hope as we await His second coming. As we remember Christ’s birth this Advent season, we long for His return. We celebrate the new life in Christ we have, yet we still hope for a place with no more grief, no more pain, no more death. Through the promise of salvation, this hope will be fulfilled at His return (Rev. 21:4: He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away).
Perhaps early on in your walk with Jesus, you, like me, had thoughts similar to these when thinking about Christ’s return: But wait — first, I want to go on my vacation next week. I want to go to college. I want to get married and have kids and grandkids. I want to do all the things you (older Christians) have been able to do before Jesus comes back. As faith matures, though, our understanding of heaven develops to a deeper comprehension that goes beyond worldly desires. But now, why do we primarily want Jesus to return? Is it the yearning to be reunited with family members? The hungering for a world of peace? While it’s true and good that we may look forward to all these things, we must remember not to place them above the simple yet primary longing to be with Christ forever, worshiping Him.
"We can’t celebrate His first coming this Advent season without also being ready to celebrate His second coming above all else."
We can’t celebrate His first coming this Advent season without also being ready to celebrate His second coming above all else. We rejoice because God is with us, indwelling us with His Holy Spirit and fully knowing us as His children. Yet we “eagerly wait” (Phil. 3:20) for the day when the Light of the world will come to eradicate darkness and fully reveal the glory of God to us “face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12: For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known).
So because we know the rest of the story, we can share the rest of the story. Not only is Advent a time of celebrating and rejoicing in the present with our brothers and sisters in Christ, but it’s also a time to share the gospel hope with those who don’t yet know His redeeming love personally. The purpose of His birth, death, and resurrection is so that all who believe in Him can be saved before His return to earth as King, when perfect justice and judgment will be enacted (John 3:16; Matt. 25:31-46).
The reality of the goodness found in walking with Emmanuel’s guiding light and wisdom leads to a desire to share this good news with all people — so that each can say with profound hope and faith, “O come, O come, Emmanuel!”
