As we enter the advent season, let’s remember to be mindful of both Advents. Yes, we celebrate the birth, life, ministry, atoning work on the cross and the Resurrection of Jesus our risen Lord, but we must also be mindful of His return.

As Christians, we live between the times of the First Advent and the Second Advent.

We affirm that Christ has come, He is present in the world today, and He will return as King in glory and power.

In Genesis 1 & 2, we’re told that God created a perfect world, a good world were there was no sin and no death. No crime. No hatred or animosity. No need for escape. It was paradise.

But that good world was fractured when we chose to rebel against our Creator and now sin and death are a part of our experience on this planet.

But even in the midst of our rebellion, God provided HOPE.

He said that He would one day send a Hero to rescue us from sin and death and not only us, but also all of creation, so that by believing in Him we could have a relationship with God.

We would be adopted into His family, sons and daughters of the King of the Universe.

The good news is: the Hero has come.

Jesus, God’s Son, came and lived a perfect life, the one we could never live. He died a bloody, horrible death and was raised again to life the third day, conquering both sin and death so that we could have life – life today and life eternal.

So as we go through the Christmas season let’s spread the good cheer, we have a message of HOPE – the good news of Jesus!

Jim