Preparing for the coming of the Lord

I love the Christmas season with its wonderful decorations, music and food and enjoy the different aspects of preparation from putting the Christmas tree up to baking mince pies while singing along to carols. Yet for many, it can also be a busy season with the pressures of getting presents, staying within budget and having everything ready in time creating extra stresses. Others may find the season lonely or bittersweet when they think of other, happier Christmases with loved ones, who are no longer there. With all our various concerns surrounding Christmas, sometimes we may forget the reason for the season! But how do we prepare best, not just outwardly to fulfil the expectations on us in terms of presents or hospitality and food, but to rejoice in the coming of Christ?

‘Turning’ with a difference

Luke’s Gospel describes John as a forerunner for Messiah to prepare people for His coming (Luke 1:17). The pattern laid out there is relevant for our Christmas preparations as well. How? First, he will turn many Israelites back to God (Luke 1:16). The language of turning comes from the Old Testament, where ‘to turn’ (shuv) is the word also for repentance. It is a recognition that our life is oriented towards the wrong things, away from God, so there is a need to turn towards Him. Secondly, such ‘repentance’ involves a fundamental change in relationships and behaviours as well. The expression of turning the fathers’ hearts to the children is difficult (v.17); it is an allusion to Malachi 4:5-6, where such turning is reciprocal (fathers to children and vice versa). In other words, it is likely that this expresses the reconciliation on the horizontal plane between people that ensues when there is a genuine turning to the Lord. Such turning will also lead to a changed lifestyle from rebellion against God’s will to accepting the wisdom of godly ways (v.17).

What enables us to encounter God?

I must admit that I have always found this idea of preparation by John a little difficult. It almost sounds like we must clean up our act before we can meet God! Yet, it cannot mean the kind of self-righteous attitude that strains with every fibre to adhere to laws and regulations, otherwise the Pharisees would have been the first to acknowledge Jesus. Isaiah describes this preparation as a clearing of the way, the valleys lifted up and the mountains brought low (Isa 40:3-4). This geological picture is symbolic of a recurring theme in the book, namely, the bringing low of the proud and the raising of the humble (cf. Isa 2:12-17; 57:15). In other words, the ministry of John and repentance always involves an element of humbling. We come down in our estimate because we realise that we have lost our way, that we are lacking in what it takes to be faithful to God, that our life is adrift without an anchor in the Lord. Yet, we come in faith trusting a loving God who will not turn us away when we seek Him. It is this humility that enables us to encounter God, which in turn transforms our heart, our relationships and attitudes.

Decluttering our heart

As we come to Christmas, let us acknowledge the things that stand in the way of fully appreciating Jesus’ coming; the anger or bitter thoughts that we might harbour against others who hurt us, the shallowness or rushed nature of our quiet times because our minds are so busy with the tasks of the day, the worries over health, money, or relationships that choke any thought of God or even the good and healthy pleasures that take priority and obscure the joy that only God can give. What we feed will grow. When we take time to quieten our heart, read God’s Word and pray, we will make room for God’s Holy Spirit to convict us where we have drifted from the Lord and help us to realign our lives with His purposes. When ‘the clutter’ in our heart is removed, we shall be prepared for the coming of the Lord.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with others.