01 Dec Balance the Temporal with the Eternal
A High-Stakes Waiting Game
Since the election, we have been playing a high-stakes waiting game, to see what the results will be of the contested election.
The mainstream media would have you believe it is all over but the shouting. On Youtube for example, below the video you may be watching, they put a notice that says, “The AP has called the Presidential race for Joe Biden. See more on Google.” It was added as soon as the AP called the race.
But now for the last couple of weeks, below that, they have added, “Robust safeguards help ensure the integrity of the election and results.” They are trying to subliminally persuade us that the election is over, and that Donald Trump is simply being a sore loser.
Even more, should the results be changed by the current legal and legislative challenges, they will likely use this same strategy to try convince the public that Donald Trump has stolen the election and is a power-grabbing dictator and not our legitimate president.
And, as I am writing this, there are historically high-stakes challenges going on in Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Georgia. The reality is, this election is not over. Only two or three (depending on the combination) of these states need to flip to President Trump in order to change the perceived outcome of the election, and there are powerful and convincing challenges being brought.
Nevertheless, we are in a waiting game to see what results may unfold.
A Season of Good News
But, while we wait, the Christmas season – that most joyous time of the year – has arrived!
That being the case, I thought I would pivot this week to Christmas, to looking at some truly good news. It’s a jarring pivot, I realize. But Thanksgiving has come and gone, opening the door to the Christmas season, and with the year that 2020 has been, many are struggling to not let the temporal cares of the world overpower our readiness to celebrate the true eternal meaning of Christmas. So, let’s look at some good news!
The four weeks leading up to Christmas has typically been called “Advent.” In a tradition spanning hundreds of years, many churches and families observe Advent by lighting a candle each of the four Sundays preceding Christmas day and one on Christmas Eve, to commemorate an aspect of Jesus’ first coming.
If this is new to you, as it once was to me since I did not grow up in a church that observed Advent, the name “Advent” comes from the Latin word, “adventus” referring to the coming or arrival of Jesus. It has the double meaning of preparing to celebrate the first coming of Jesus, as well as to prepare our hearts and lives for His second coming.
The advent wreath is used by Christians as a way of symbolizing the coming of Jesus, the light of the world. The advent wreath is made of evergreen branches, symbolizing life… arranged in a circle, symbolizing eternal life. In this wreath are placed five candles. The four outside candles represent four themes for the four Sundays before Christmas: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
On the first Sunday, one candle is lit. On the second, two candles are lit, the third Sunday three, and the fourth Sunday four. The fifth and final candle in the middle of the wreath is the white Christ candle, and is traditionally lit on Christmas Eve. The increasing light each Sunday symbolizes a growing anticipation for the birth of Christ, the light of the world.
Some traditions use a different progression of themes for the outside candles: the Prophet’s Candle representing prophecies of Jesus, the Bethlehem Candle representing that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the Shepherds’ Candle representing that His birth was witnessed by the shepherds, and the Angels’ Candle representing that his birth was proclaimed by the angels.
Advent Sunday #1: The Hope Candle
The Hope Candle, or the Prophet’s Candle, reminds us of the foretelling in the Old Testament of One who would come to save us from our sins. It looks forward to the prophecies of the coming savior, one of which is Isaiah 9:
2 The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
And a second prophecy is Isaiah 7:14:
Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
The prophets of old gave us this great hope, and this candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent to remind us of the hope we have in our Messiah who came the first time 2000 years ago in Bethlehem, and who will come again one day to restore peace and righteousness on the earth.
Advent Sunday #2: The Peace Candle
The Peace Candle, or Bethlehem Candle, reminds us that Jesus, born in Bethlehem, came in order that we might have peace with God, giving us eternal life in heaven, as well as the peace of God, giving us abundant life on earth. It was verified that Jesus was the Prince of Peace, when he said, in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
Advent Sunday #3: The Joy Candle
The Joy Candle, or the Shepherd’s Candle, looks at the joy that surrounded the announcement of the birth of our Savior to the shepherds. It is pink because pink is such a joyful color. The angels told the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Advent Sunday #4: The Love Candle
The Love Candle, or the Angels’ Candle, reminds us that the coming of Jesus shows us God’s perfect love announced by the angels.
Benjamin Disraeli, one-time Prime Minister of England, wrote, “Love is the principle of existence, and its only end.” In that one profound sentence, he summarized the greatest of all biblical truths. “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) That is what explains everything. God sent His Son to die for us because He loves us.
Christmas Eve: The Christ Candle
The Christ Candle is white, symbolizing the holiness and purity of Jesus, the Son of God. The Christ Candle is in the center of the wreath, indicating that the incarnation is at the heart of the season, giving light to the world. We light this candle to celebrate the culmination of the Advent Season. It is the final symbolic step preparing our hearts for observing and celebrating the birth of the Baby of Bethlehem, who became the King of Glory, the God-Man who sacrificed His life as a ransom for the many and in doing so provided salvation for all who believe.
Conclusion
Regardless of the upheaval of our temporal circumstances at this Christmas season, we can fix our minds and hearts on eternal truths, and in doing so, nurture hope, peace, joy and love – fixing our eyes on Jesus, who has secured our eternal future.
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