“For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I will make a road through the wilderness of the world for my people to go home, and create rivers for them in the desert!” (Isaiah 43:19 TLB)
In my Thursday night Bible Study class, I made a comment about a time years ago that I heard more than one preacher speak on the subject, “You Better Check Yourself, Before You Wreck Yourself” in a relatively short period of time. I was informed in so many words that these preachers were using cultural nomenclature; applying hip hop language used in their time to capture the attention of the people in the pews. So, I said I was going to reach back way into the time vault and preach an Advent sermon entitled, “Poppa’s got a Brand New Bag.” I though everyone in class would fall out laughing. But most were born in an era a couple or three decades after me, so the song was like foreign language to their ears. It was not part of their contemporary, cultural nomenclature.
I was only joking about the sermon title, but I did decide to use today’s title to remind you that Advent Season began November 29 and goes through December 24 this year. Advent, the word comes from “ad-venire” in Latin or “to come to.” Advent, as defined in the dictionary is a season of the liturgical year observed in most Christian denominations as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. Did you notice the true meaning of Christmas pointed out in the definition of Advent and also the declaration of the truth that, thank God, Jesus is coming back again?
God had sent the patriarchs, the prophets, and people of faith in the Old Testament. None of these could save us. But at the right time, God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus. The others I just mentioned could not save us. So we found out when Jesus came, it was as the Lord was saying, “Poppa’s got a Brand New Bag!” He was sending us a new way; a sure way to gain salvation! He was sending us a new Person, since no one else could present us with a sure way to reconcile with God and receive salvation! He sent us Jesus, the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. He sent us Jesus, “The way, the truth, and the life!” He sent us Jesus so that we as believers can proclaim without any doubt that we have been saved by grace through faith! Oh, I don’t know about you, but I’m glad that Poppa, our Father which art in heaven had a brand new bag that made salvation possible and gave us a way to a better life; abundant life and everlasting life.
Don’t wait until you think it’s just the right thing to do on Christmas morning; the right time to thank the Father for Jesus as some type of holiday, pre-opening of the gifts ritual! Go ahead and thank Him for sending His Son right now! And thank him in advance that we will see His precious face one day because He is, yes He is, coming back again one day! Okay for you in the younger generation, “Check yourself before you wreck yourself” and make sure that today and everyday forward that you are living a Christ-like life. Expand your Advent Season beyond the liturgical definition and let it be on your mind every day of your life! He picked you up one day from the gutter of sin and He will take you up another day to come into the presence of the glory of God! Have a peaceful and productive Saturday, filled with positive experiences! And don’t forget to attend worship service in person or by virtual means as necessary for some tomorrow! Be blessed!
“Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Philippians 4:20 NASB)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King