Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Advent: The Year of Our Lord 2014



Advent: the burning, longing, laborious, questioning anticipation of the coming of the King. Advent: the time of looking forward again to the mighty celebration of the springing of light into darkness—into a darkness so thick it could be felt—tasted, heavy and bitter—a darkness leaving permanent stains of scarlet blood-guilt.

The King has come. The dragon-slayer conquered and He has turned the scarlet of His people to the white of snow. He came in trial and travail. He came in real, physical, agonizing birth. There was blood at that beginning and there was blood at the agonizing, excruciating end—the end that was really the stunning beginning where the world turned right side up and was made forever new.

From beyond the beginning of time He had determined and looked forward with iron resolve to that coming, ordering it with a love beyond the foundations of the world. Throughout the ages God gave His word, the faithful among His people clinging to it, and in the fullness of time all—every last iota—was fulfilled completely in Christ, the final word, the Word made flesh. 

And in the fullness of His coming, slaying the dragon, He brought peace. Yet peace is not ‘safety’. The worlds have been turned right side up and they are still shaking with the impact. The clay models of fallen men are turning on their heads round us and precarious territory lies everywhere. 

He has come. The work is utterly finished. At the same time we are waiting again—waiting for the final culmination. We await it as warriors. Our King stood alone in the fiery breach. He struck the death-blow and He commands His people to step out in faith—to follow Him in battle. And through all the fighting He gives us a great longing—a longing that can only be satiated with more of Himself. A burning longing blending and twined inseparably with a fathomless joy.


4 comments:

  1. Aaaaahhhhhhh, Heidi! This is amazing. Seriously beautiful, and I wish I could've written something like this. It's so interesting, because we watched Desolation of Smaug again last night, and your post was the first thing I read in my email this morning, so 'dragon-slayer' seems so utterly perfect. Praise be to the Lord for His mighty works. :-)

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    1. Joanna,
      Thank you! I'm so glad you found it encouraging. (Also, I love when delightful "coincidences" happen like that. ;))

      And yes, the works of the Lord are mighty and breathtaking. Thanks be to Him, indeed!

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  2. Hi! I just arrived here via the SDMW Link-up...and I'm so glad I did. Beautiful! Thanks for sharing! :)

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    1. Alison,
      I'm so glad you enjoyed the post.... Thank you! :)

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I'd love to hear your thoughts and look forward to further confabulation. Please just be courteous to one and all. Oh, and I love thoughts on old posts, so comment away!

(Also of late -- what with time being finite, and Life Happening + managing multiple blogs and computer issues and all that -- I sometimes have to alternate between creating new content and replying to comments, but rest assured I'm thrilled to hear from each and every one of you and always hope to reply thoughtfully in full ASAP. <3)

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