“ Lo, he comes with clouds descending, once for favoured sinners slain; thousand thousand saints attending swell the triumph of his train:Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! God appears on earth to reign.” – Charles Wesley
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Welcome to the season of Advent! The word “Advent” simply means the coming of someone important. We celebrate the season of Advent as a reminder that we live between two surprising and supernatural comings of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The first time was his coming as God’s son at Christmas. He came in weakness, seen by few, and was misunderstood by most. The second time he comes it will be different. He will come in power and glory with God‘s holy angels attending him. Every eye will see him. There will be no scintilla of misunderstanding as to his majesty and authority as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
His purpose of coming will be unmistakable. The first time he came to remove sin, save us from the wrath of God, and set us free from the power of satan by the sacrifice of himself on the Cross. He will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to establish his kingdom in righteousness, restore all things, and finally glorify and save all those who are eagerly waiting for him. He will destroy all evil and grant lasting peace and harmony to his people and all of creation.
So the purpose of Advent is to help us look back with gratitude to God for the gift of his Son at Christmas to save us, and to look forward to his future coming with eagerness for his glorious reign of life, joy, love, peace, and righteousness forever.
Until then we must watch and be ready because our Lord Jesus Christ will come at time unknown to anyone. Are you watching? Are you ready for his coming? If not, repent of your sin, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, and follow him as your Lord in obedience to his Word as you wait for that glorious day when we shall see him face to face. He is coming soon! When he comes:
“Every eye shall now behold him
robed in dreadful majesty;
those who set at naught and sold him, pierced and nailed him to the tree, deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
shall the true Messiah see.“ –Charles Wesley.
I wish you a blessed Advent season.
Warm regards,
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Felix Orji, OSB.
Diocesan Bishop | Anglican Diocese of the West
Missionary Bishop | CANA
