As so often the prophet Isaiah challenges the People of God to respond to the promises of God. Our God is a God of promise – he promised to Abraham that the patriarch’s descendants would flourish and that his heir in due course would be a blessing to all who dwell on earth. He promised to his servant Moses that his people would dwell in security. He promised through the prophets that salvation would come as the “word was made flesh” in the person of Jesus.
And he promised again and again that the Jesus who lived, died and rose for us on earth as our Saviour will return in majesty and splendour as Lord and Judge at the end of the age. In fact the Second Coming of Christ is among the most prominent themes in the New Testament, and it is this on which we focus for the next four weeks.
In a way it’s encouraging that Advent constitutes the beginning of the Church year (my diary runs from December to November – not a lot of people know that!). It’s a statement about hope and an acknowledgement of the challenge of the Gospel.
Our verse encourages us to live in step with the light of the Lord, the light of Christ. The world may focus on extravagant street lighting – our hope is in the light of Christ our Saviour, Lord and Judge. (RS)
“Almighty God, as your kingdom dawns, turn us from the darkness of sin to the light of holiness, that we may be ready to meet you in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.” (An Advent Collect)
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