Heaven's Light Breaking: A 5-Day Advent DevotionalSample

You’ve seen the telltale signs in your town and your neighborhood. Lights are going up on houses. Now and then, and not as often as in days gone by, you will see a manger scene in someone’s yard. You see Christmas trees on top of cars, traffic backing up around the malls.

I don’t think it’s possible that you could miss the fact that Christmas is here.

Many people, however, did miss that first Christmas, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. In fact, most people in the world missed it.

The Hebrew prophets had clearly foretold the fact that a Savior was coming, that He would indeed be the Messiah, that He would be born of a virgin, that He would be a direct descendaent of David, and that He would be born in the tiny village of Bethlehem.

For the most part, however, people drove right past those road signs.

Why? Because they really weren’t paying attention.

Sadly, many people in Israel were spiritually asleep when God visited them that first Christmas. It’s pretty much the same as we look at our own culture today. Yes, we celebrate Christmas, but it is so easy to forget about Christ.

You and I, however, can make sure that we are ready when He returns to the earth, as He has promised. Jesus Christ, born in the manger in Bethlehem, crucified on the cross of Calvary, risen again from the dead, is coming back again.

Those who have been watching and waiting know that He will come soon—and we don’t want to miss that! He came right on schedule the first time, and He will come right on schedule the second time, the time set by His Father.

No, we can’t know the day or the hour of Christ’s return, but we can learn to read the signs of the times. And those signs have been saying consistently and clearly, that the time for our Lord’s return is near.

When it comes to Jesus Christ returning to earth, being ready couldn’t be more important. People may have missed the first Christmas, but we don’t want to miss His return. He is coming for those who are watching and waiting.

So don’t just be ready for Christmas this year, be ready for Christ Himself.