Wrapped up in this Christmas season is the celebration of Advent. The word Advent is translated from Latin as ‘coming‘. It seems that a coming always is preceded by a waiting. During the season of Advent we reflect on the coming of Jesus as a baby. He came as our Savior in fulfillment to prophecy. On the other hand, the celebration of Advent is a perfect time to realize that God still comes. He still shows up in our stories.
Advent brings Waiting
The promise of the coming of the Messiah meant a time of waiting. When the promise was first given they did not know the length of the time that would elapse before the fullness of time was come. The time of waiting that the Old Testament throng walked through has ended. There had been years of doubt and questions yet there were trust and answers as well. There were days of agonizing wondering and lonely surmising. Then we find God coming in answer to his peoples’ cries. God showed up in their stories.
For example, Abraham waited for a child. For years, He clung to the God who made the promise. A child was born and the covenant renewed. The covenant God made with him was only seen afar off, yet he lived looking forward.
Jacob waited for reconciliation. For years he lived with the heartbreak of a divided family home. Then with courage Jacob moved forward, knowing that God was a covenant keeping God.
Joseph waited in the dark cistern and then again in the dark jail. He waited trusting that God could work for good what others had meant for evil. These patriarchs of old wrestled with the human foibles that we ourselves question when in a season of waiting. At the end of their story though, we find that they had learned to trust in the waiting.
Learning to Wait
The years came and went. Kingdoms rose and fell. God’s people turned their back on Him. Mercy was extended again and again. Then the day came God’s chosen people were exiled. Prophets continued to be faithful even when the people were in a foreign land. A remnant returned and the beloved city was rebuilt. God’s hand was in it.
However, there were still ones who had not learned to wait well. They had not mastered the art of waiting in trust for Almighty God to move. 400 years of silence came. Out of the silence and darkness came a few men and women that had learned the art of waiting. However, there were still others who had lost their sense of expectancy in spite of faithful obedience.
Zacharias’ Story
We find Zacharias among those who had lost his sense of expectancy. Long years of waiting had dulled his sense of anticipation. He had stopped looking for God to show up. Yes, Zacharias still showed up at the temple. He was careful to obey God’s commandments and was faithful in all things. In fact, He was one of the priests that came once a year to the temple.
This year was no different. Zacharias waited among the crowd to see whose name would be drawn to minister over the next days. He was an old man now. His name had never been drawn. Zacharias expected to leave as he had all the other years. His name had not been chosen before. Why would this year be any different?
Zacharias may have been thinking of the long trip home or maybe longing for a warm bowl of broth to ease the chill that the stinging wind had brought to his old and weary bones. Then a hush settled over the crowd and with a start Zacharias realized that it was his name that had been singled out. “Zacharias, of the course of Abia.” The words echoed through his mind. A way opened before him and a nudge on his shoulder and a slap on his back propelled him forward. It was he that had been chosen to burn incense upon the altar in the temple of the Lord.
Life changed for Zacharias in more ways than one in that moment. He had been chosen. He had been accepted. Zacharias’ heart reached out with a ray of hope to the Creator God. From the very presence of God, angel Gabriel winged his way to earth.
A Message for Advent
A message of joy and gladness was to be delivered. An answered prayer, a fulfilled promise and prepared hearts were all a part of the angel’s message. And yet doubts, questions and fears still clung within the heart of Zacharias. His vision was obstructed by the insurmountable circumstances.
It was here in the middle of his story of fears and doubts that God met Zacharias. It is true that Zacharias was struck dumb from that moment. No words could pass through his lips. The silence of years past had not done the work of ousting the doubts. God brought silence once again to Zacharias’ world. It was a silence that proved to be a waiting on God. In this waiting Zacharias learned to trust once again. He placed his fears into the hands of the Lord God of Israel. When his tongue was loosed praise flowed from his lips.
Your Story
Have you been waiting in the silence and darkness? Do doubts and fears fill your heart? God will meet you where you are at. It was from the presence of God Gabriel was sent to Zacharias. You are no less important. He has promised his Holy Spirit to abide with you forever. God has the answers to your fears and frustrations.
If you have entered into a space of waiting in your life story, recognize that God has something for you to learn. He longs to gather you close to His side. Learn to trust. Determine to master the art of waiting well. Then when the waiting is over you will be able to praise the God of Heaven.
Mary’s Story
Zacharias was old and well-stricken in years. On the other hand, we see Mary, brimming with the vitality of life. She stands on the brink of youth. Her life stretching out before her. She is an ordinary girl waiting with expectancy for whatever life would bring. Marriage, a home and a husband were a few of the things that she is looking forward to. Then God showed up in the middle of an ordinary day. Gabriel was once again sent from the Presence of God with a message. This time in contrast, it was to a young inexperienced girl.
Do you think Gabriel questioned his assignment? Last time he was sent to earth with a message he had to strike the elderly man dumb because of his doubts. How would this trip be any better? Regardless of what Gabriel did or did not think, He came with a message of “Fear not.”
A message of the advent of Almighty God coming to the world as a baby. It was a message of hope for the world. A message filled with unconditional love. Mary questioned. Her world had just been knocked off kilter by the appearance of a heavenly being, but her heart stayed open to whatever God wanted her to do. She listened as Gabriel continued to deliver his message and then she spoke those well-known words:
“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”
Luke 1:38
The Difference
Mary questioned and then accepted the fact that God was the God of the impossible. She placed herself at the disposal of the Almighty God.
In our questions of life are we like Zacharias or Mary? They both questioned. What was the difference?
Zacharias’ questioning was surrounded by the reasons why God couldn’t make it happen. He was too old. His wife was too old. He was basically telling God that the obstacle were insurmountable.
Mary, on the other hand had questions she asked as well. Yet, her heart saw beyond the impossibility of a virgin birth to a God who makes all things possible.
Too often, we are like Zacharias. We hear God speak his promises and then we question and point to all the reasons why God can’t keep his promise. Consequently, the promises of God become tinged with a doubt that is detrimental.
The Advent of God
During this Advent season take time to read and reflect on the visitation of Gabriel to Zacharias and Mary. Furthermore, ask God to speak to you and remove the doubts that linger in your soul. Clasp close to your heart the words Gabriel spoke to Mary.
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke
Luke 1:37
Recognize that in Advent and in every day God still comes to those who wait for Him. Whether it be in the dark of night or in the light of day God will come. He arrived as a baby in a manger. Jesus showed up as a sacrifice for our sins. He came as the Savior of the world. One of these days He will come as our returning King of Kings.
In the meantime, as we wait let us worship. Grasp the fact that God specializes in coming to meet our needs. When we need a personal advent or ‘coming’ we can be sure that God will show up. Our waiting will not be in vain. God will come. He will come and write our story from beginning to end as we learn to worship in trust and wait well.
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