Meeting Him in the Mid-Air with Great Expectation

The Advent season, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ, is a time of immense celebration. It's a time when we come together to rejoice in the miracle of His birth and the hope He brings to the world. But beyond the nativity scene and the familiar Christmas story, there's another aspect of Advent that's equally profound – the eager anticipation of Christ's second coming, as foretold in Scripture.

The Birth of Jesus: A Great Celebration

The birth of Jesus, as recorded in the Gospels, is undoubtedly a cause for great celebration. It marks the fulfillment of God's promise to send a Savior to the world. The angels sang, the shepherds rejoiced, and the Magi traveled from afar to worship Him. In much the same way, our celebration of Christmas is an opportunity to reflect on the incredible gift of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, who came to bring salvation to humanity.

Anticipating His Glorious Return

While we celebrate His birth, we must also turn our hearts and minds to the Scriptures that speak of Christ's second coming. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, we read of the day when believers will meet the Lord in the air: "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."

Preparing Our Hearts for His Return

As we celebrate Christ's birth and look forward to His second coming, we should heed the words of 2 Peter 3:11-12: "Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God." This passage calls us to live holy and godly lives as we eagerly await His return.

The Promise of Eternal Life

In John 14:2-3, Jesus Himself assures us: "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." This promise reminds us that His return is not a cause for fear but a reason for hope and joy.

In this Advent season, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus with great joy and reverence, let us also keep our hearts open to the blessed hope of His second coming. Just as the birth of Christ was a momentous event, His return will be a glorious culmination of God's redemptive plan. May our celebration of Christmas be a reminder of the promise of meeting Him in the mid-air, an event that we eagerly await with faith, hope, and great expectation.

Reflective Questions

● How does the anticipation of meeting the Lord in the air with other believers shape our perspective on the significance of Christmas?

● How does the promise of eternal life with Christ encourage us to embrace the anticipation of His return as a source of great hope?