A song of expectation

Even though He had been promised in Scripture, the people who lived before Jesus may have sometimes wondered if the Messiah really was on His way. Iranian Christian and SAT-7 Communications Officer Omeed Jouyandé reflects on his favourite Christmas song, and the nature of waiting for God’s promises:

Waiting is a recurring theme woven into God’s plan of salvation for humankind. Abraham and Sarah waited for the child of promise, Isaac. The children of Israel walked the wilderness, waiting to enter the promised land. As members of Christ’s body, the Church, we await His return and visible earthly reign. With deepening crises in the Middle East and North Africa, this is especially evident among persecuted Christians in countries such as Afghanistan and Iran.

The expectation of the Messiah’s arrival is a poignant aspect of a favourite carol of mine, O Come O Come Emmanuel, which expresses a deep longing for the Messiah and joyfully calls on Him to return:

O come, bright Daystar, come and cheer our spirits by your advent here; dispel the long night’s lingering gloom and pierce the shadows of the tomb.

Living in the Church age, we look back in constant wonder that God became a man and entered the world to open the way to heaven. We also look forward and wonder: will Jesus literally return to earth? How? Will I see it?

As we look forward to Christ’s return and read the scriptures that point to it, it is immensely encouraging to know that in relation to Christ’s birth, God fulfilled the prophecies literally and to the letter. Because of this, we can trust that the Unchanging One who is the same yesterday, today and forever will in the same way also fulfil the prophecies of Christ’s return to establish His visible kingdom.

A bright promise to light up a dark December evening. Maranatha – come Lord Jesus!

Read and Reflect

Read Revelation 21:1-5 and reflect on His promise to dwell with us again and make all things new. What in particular makes you long for that day?