Christ Our Coming King

First Sunday of Advent

Matthew 24:36-44

"No one knows, however, when that day and hour will come—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son; the Father alone knows… So then, you also must always be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are not expecting him."

Matthew 24:36, 44 GNT

When was the last time that you were surprised? How did you feel about it? Generally, people love surprises, especially if it’s for a special occasion such as celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, a promotion and whatnot.

But there are also surprises that can really make us upset such as losing someone unexpectedly, or being laid off from the company, and other unforeseen tragedies. Thus, uncertainties can make people anxious and scared.

For Christians, the imminent yet unknown time of Christ's return can make us feel worried about the future given that the Bible has much to say about how dark and terrible this time of judgment will be. But for those who are hoping for the return of Christ to re-establish God’s rule over creation, this is actually the good news that gives us hope and peace despite all the troubles around us. Hence, we are encouraged not to lose heart but to be constantly on the look out for the coming of the Kingdom. 

Being alert, working for the Kingdom in preparation for the coming of the King, is how we overcome apathy and insensitivity to the concerns of our neighbor and the world.

Let us pray that the church, in these final days, will receive fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to reawaken our spirit so that our joy and enthusiasm to serve God and his people will be rekindled for the glory of his Kingdom.