Come, Lord Jesus

Advent calendar found here

The first time I saw an Advent calendar, as I recall, was when I was a teenager and my German friend's mother sent her one. Aila explained to me that each day she would open a little door on the calendar, and there would be some emblem of Christmas to be seen behind the door. I was fascinated by how the little doors could be popped open. It was a fun way to count down the days from December 1 until Christmas.

I didn't grow up in a family that used advent calendars, nor a church that celebrated with advent candles. We didn't count down from four weeks before Christmas, and there were no Christmas trees in the church (although that was probably more a function of being situated in the tropics, far from any coniferous trees). My church was very wary of any ritual that was similar to those of other denominations, and thus the symbols were sparse. Rather puritan-like, we avoided candles, clerical robes (choir robes were okay), and artwork in the sanctuary.

I did, however, spend many happy church hours as a child looking at the huge painting up front of Jesus knocking on a door. I knew it was the door of my heart. "Come in," I would hear myself saying in my head to Him.  "Come in! My door is open to You."

This is not the picture, but it was a similar idea

And that's what Advent is all about, as we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent today. "Come in." Come into our world. Come into my heart. Come in and bring forgiveness, peace, love and joy. Come in and make me new. My door is open to You.

And at the same time, as we look back at the first advent, and as we look inward at the advent that invites Him in, here in the present, we can't help but look forward to a coming Advent. It's the coming advent where He makes all things new, where he wipes all tears from our eyes, where there is no more darkness, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain, for all things have been made new. I love that hopeful word: "Advent."

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."

Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

~Rev. 22:20