Merry Christmas, Uinta County! The definition of advent is “coming.” Historically, advent was the season of preparing young Christians for baptism, a season of loving and forgiving, a season of light overcoming the darkness. The coming of the Messiah and our sin being cast away. 

Advent begins the four Sundays preceding Christmas. Typically, a candle is lit and the worship focuses on hope, love, faith and peace — virtues that Jesus demonstrated. The candles are placed in a circle representing Christ’s unending love for us. 

The first candle lit represents hope, the promise of the coming Messiah that had been prophesied for centuries. Jeremiah 33:14-16 spoke of a day coming when God will fulfill His promise of restoration through the seed of David, a righteous King bringing salvation and security.

Multiple passages in Isaiah prophesy the coming of a savior. Amos 9:11-13 speaks of the coming Messiah redeeming the people. Isaiah 7:14 speaks of the virgin birth. Micah 5:2 tells of a ruler being born in Bethlehem, and Genesis 3:15 tells of the coming of the Messiah, born of a woman, that will defeat Satan.

The second candle represents the peace Christ brought into our hearts and life. Isaiah 9:16 is a prophecy that contains comfort and punishment. The verse describes the Messiah as an Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. The verse calls us to prepare for the coming Lord and repent of sin.

The third candle represents joy. Joy that came when Christ entered the world. Often this candle is a different color shifting our focus from one of repentance to one of joy. This candle is sometimes called the shepherd’s candle. Matthew 2:10-11 states when the shepherds saw the star, they were overjoyed. They saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

The fourth candle represents love. John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world that he brought his only begotten son so that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish and will have everlasting life. We are prompted to love others as God loved us.

The last candle is typically white and represents Jesus coming into the world. Why would God become man, come to earth, and live among us suffering all that we suffer? He came because he so loved us and wanted his people to spend eternity with him.

If heaven is a paradise, a place of peace and pure love why would God want a sinful people to bring their sin into paradise. Exactly why God had to send us a Savior; someone who could atone for sin.

So what are Christians waiting for today? Jesus already came, demonstrated a perfect life, took the punishment that we deserved, and went to the cross so that we could be washed clean. The bible tells us that Jesus will return to earth to judge the living and the dead.

The second coming demonstrates that God is in control and is faithful to his promises and prophecies. In the first coming Jesus fulfilled a multitude of prophecies, but there are still prophecies the Messiah is to fulfill.

In the first coming, Jesus came as a suffering servant, the second time he will come as a conquering King. Revelation 19:11-16 tells us that heaven opens up and a rider on a white horse called faithful and true will be there with armies of heaven following.

Out of his mouth is a sharp sword that will strike down the nations, and he will rule with an iron scepter. On his robe will be written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I pray the good folks of Uinta County are ready to receive him.