I Can't Wait

Christmas was always the highlight of my childhood! I loved seeing the houses lit up, the manger scene, the Christmas songs and hymns, the special desserts…. the gifts. My parents waited till after the Christmas Eve service to put the presents under the tree. We all had to sit in the car and wait. After waiting for weeks and weeks the epic moment was about to happen. I have to admit when I grew older and knew where Mom stashed the gifts, I even peeked at a few. I just couldn’t wait.

Jesus wants us to have that kind of anticipation for when he comes again! The gift of heaven that he has waiting for us outshines any gift we have under the tree. Advent is a beautiful time for a family. We can explore the humanity of God’s Son who came as an infant to poor parents. We can talk with our children about why Jesus would come. It is a time to get real about our own need for a Savior. The personal sins that plague our families are gone at the cross. Advent is a time to be honest before God and to let his cross fill the eyes of our hearts.

And it is a time to look forward to what is still to come. The night before Jesus died he prayed to his Father. In that prayer you can see how excited Jesus is to show us his glory in heaven. It sounds like he can hardly wait to be with us where sin and pain and death and sorrow will never touch us again!

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” John 17:24

Soon we will all be together looking into the eyes of Jesus and every moment will be more epic and full of bliss then that moment every Christmas when we open our gifts. Peek at the gift of heaven to come with your children through the windows of God’s Word (Revelation 7; 21). There, the warm light of his love will bathe the dark parts of our hearts.

It’s hard to wait for Jesus to come again is hard because we do not know when it will be. But God gives us his Words and his promises to keep us close to him.

O God, help us to cling to you in faith while we wait for you to come. Help our families to never take your forgiveness for granted. Thank you for bringing us back to you when we stray away. In the coming days of getting ready for Christmas, give parents time with children to wonder at who you are and what you did to give us eternity with you. Amen.