First Sunday in Advent is not about 8 pound 6 ounce baby Jesus in a manger but rather the triumphant return of the Lord of lords in what the New Testament calls the PAROUSIA (appearance, 2nd coming).

There is no shortage of signs already completed:
1) Temple in Jerusalem destroyed.
2) Wars and nations turning against nations.
3) Famines and earthquakes.
4) Believers of Jesus persecuted.
5) False prophets.
6) Gospel preached to all people.

With all of these sign complete, or near completion, you can see why the early Christians were quitting their jobs, refusing to care for their families, and instead just watching in the east for Jesus' return.

That has been almost 2,000 years and counting! Yet no one, not even Jesus knows the day or the hour.

The longer Jesus tarries the less we are wary of his return which is why he tells his disciples to stay wake, to watch, and not be caught by surprise.

How best to wait? to stay awake? not be surprised nor with excuses?

LIVING URGENTLY BUT NOT ANXIOUSLY
The best way to stay awake is to live urgently by realizing that every day might very well be the day that Jesus returns, or as has been the case for the last 2000 years, we take our last breath. Not something we normally want to get up and focus on first thing in the morning but it is something that we lay our head on the pillow in the evening to make a difference in our lives.

Secondly, living without anxiety, Proverbs 36 says, “In all your ways acknowledge the Lord and he will make your pass straight.” So focusing on Christ, on his love, on his purposes, on his will is the best way to live with assurance not anxiety. Doing that we become confident and who we are because we know who we are for children of God people of invaluable worth. It’s not because of what we do, but just simply because of who we are.