Advent of the Soul

When we think of Advent typically we always think of the Nativity, the birth of Jesus, the incarnation of the Word of God.  There are three advents that every person will know about one day.  The great desire is that each of us would be intimately acquainted with the sweet knowledge of each before we exit this world.

The first Advent is the Nativity, Yahweh, the Word of God, took on human flesh, the second is in the soul of each child of God and the third is at the judgement.  The first occurred at night as witnessed by the shepherds.  

“After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.” (Luke 2:17–20, NLT)

We live in the age of the second Advent!  What is the Advent of the soul? 

 “In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:20–23)

The Advent of the soul is simply when we repent and when Jesus reveals, shows, or manifests Himself and you receive Him by faith.  Paul teaches us in Romans that, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)  For God's children that die in Christ Paul tells us that, “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)  For those that die outside of Christ they will face the Great White Throne judgement, you may read of this horrific event in Revelation 20.

As for the third Advent, it will come either when we die or when Jesus comes again.  It will most certainly come, but we have no certainty as to when.

Thus the first advent was lowly and hidden; the second is mysterious and full of love; the third will be glorious. In his first advent Christ was judged unjustly by men; in the second, he grants us mercy and justice by his grace; in the last, he will judge all things with equity: Lamb like Lion in the first advent; Lion like Lamb in the last; our most gentle Friend in the second.

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”” (Matthew 11:28–30)

Pursuing intimacy with the Lion Like Lamb and the Lamb Like Lion...King Jesus!