On this Advent Christmas Eve (Note 1), as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we consider the words of A. W. Tozer (Note 2):

“We are assured that the appearing of Jesus Christ will take place. It will take place in His time. There are many who believe that it can take place soon, that there is nothing left to be done on earth to make possible His return. Apart from His first coming, and the events of His death and resurrection, it will be the greatest event in the history of the world.

“We may well say that the next greatest event in the history of the world will be “the appearing of Jesus Christ whom, having not seen, we love; and in whom, though now we see Him not, we believe and rejoice with unspeakable joy and full of glory!” (1 Peter 1:7-8)

“The world will not know it, but he that hath this hope in him will know it for he has purified himself even as Christ is pure!”

Rejoice!

Note 1: Advent is a season of commemoration of Christ’s first coming and the anticipation of His second coming. Taken from the Latin adventus (coming, arrival, invasion), Advent proclaims the coming of Christ in two ways: it celebrates His long-awaited arrival as Messiah over 2,000 years ago, and it anticipates His imminent return as King of kings and Lord of lords. Christians often speak of Christ’s “first advent” and “second advent”; that is, His first and second comings to earth. His first advent was his birth in Bethlehem (the Incarnation) that we celebrate as Christmas. Our focus this Advent season is Christ’s second coming.

Note 2: Adapted; From Heaven, A 28-Day Advent Devotional, A. W. Tozer (1897 – 1963)