Advent – A Time of Waiting

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters

I admit I am a terrible “waiter.” I am not referring to my ability to “wait” on tables – I started out in conference ministry at 16, working in the dish pit, then graduated to a busser, then a waiter.

 

I’m talking about learning the process of waiting. I am the guy who can’t wait to give out presents for Christmas and want to do it earlier. I’m the guy who once a thought enters my mind, I want to forge ahead and get it done.

 

I am the guy who sends out an impulsive email rather than waiting to gain clarity and perspective.

 

Advent is a reminder of a season of waiting. I recently read this:

Lamech waited six hundred years before his son Noah entered the ark.
Abraham waited twenty-five years for the birth of Isaac.
Isaac waits twenty-five years for the birth of Esau and Jacob.
Jacob works and waits seven years to get his wife Leah.
Naomi waits for years to see her life restored.
Hannah waits for years for the birth of her son, Samuel.
David is anointed in his youth as king, but doesn’t have it happen until he is 30 years.

 

Pastor Jonathan Gibson writes that “in adding up the ages in the biblical genealogies it reveals that God’s promise in the garden of Eden of a coming, conquering son takes about four thousand years to become a reality!”

 

He reminds us that “in the Old Testament, believers wait for Jesus’s first coming; in the New Testament, believers wait for His second coming. In both cases, God’s people live in light of Christ’s Advent.”

 

We are not waiting for the second Advent – a promise made in Acts thousands of years ago.

 

I love this advent hymn – Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Come, Thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

Joy to those who long to see Thee,
Dayspring from on high, appear.
Come, Thou promises Rod of Jesse,
Of Thy birth, we long to hear!
O’er the hills the angels singing,
News, glad tidings of a birth;
“Go to Him your praises bringing,
Christ the Lord has come to earth!

Come to earth to taste our sadness,
He whose glories knew no end.
By His life He brings us gladness,
Our Redeemer, Shepherd friend.
Leaving riches without number,
Born within a cattle stall;
This is the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King.
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne. – Charles Wesley

 

Reflecting on His first Advent gives us confidence in this season of waiting, His second Advent will happen! “Come, Thou long-expected Jesus.”

 

Anchored to the Rock,

Bill Welte, President/CEO
America’s Keswick

Email Bill: bwelte@americaskeswick.org

 

Written by Dr. Bill Welte: Bill has been the President & CEO of America’s Keswick for 26+ years, living and breathing Keswick’s message of Victory every day. He has an empowering gift with people leaving each one with an impressionable sense of God’s love, grace, and truth. He hosts & leads various Keswick events, as well as speaking at numerous churches in the tri-state area. He now lives off-campus with his childhood sweetheart of 40+ years, Jan. They have four married kids and 12 amazing grandkids. In his personal time, he loves to read and weekly writes for Keswick’s Freedom Fighter blogs.

---

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”  Hebrews 13:20-21