Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8.
A time of preparation,
A time of reflection,
A time of waiting.
Advent encompasses all of these.
We are preparing for Christmas,
looking at the prophecies of Isaiah foretelling Jesus’ birth.
We are reflecting on our sins and role in God’s Story of Everything,
looking to the birth of our Savior who offers forgiveness.
We are waiting on our Lord to return again,
looking forward to that Last Day when we will be with Jesus in paradise.
Waiting might just be the hardest part, though.
The world continues to fall apart around us,
We continue to live lives full of sorrow and struggle,
Death continues to reign here on Earth,
As all things are steeped in sin.
Yet we receive this promise:
Yes – the grass withers.
Yes – the flower fades.
Yes – we continue to live in a fallen world.
But – The Word of our God endures forever.
God’s Word will not fade away or wither,
God’s Word will not leave us without hope.
As it is through the hearing of God’s Word that the Holy Spirit works faith.
The promises of God,
Forgiveness of sins,
Salvation,
Life everlasting,
These promises are certain and will not go away.
As we wait for Christmas – the first coming of Jesus Christ to us as a child born of a virgin,
We also wait for the Last Day – the second coming of Jesus Christ to us as the Lord of all.
The grass will wither,
The flower will fade,
The world will continue in sin.
But the Word of the Lord endures forever.
God’s enduring Word,
The Story of Everything – From Genesis to the Last Day.
Vicar Boester