Christmas is a season of preparing for and celebrating change. The liturgical season of Advent culminates on Christmas Eve and the birth of Jesus is celebrated on Christmas Day. Advent is a time where Christ followers prepare their hearts and minds to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Advent is a season of waiting for change, anticipating and then celebrating the change Christ brought into the world. Although we celebrate the birth of Jesus today, we enter a new season of Advent tomorrow.
We all know, see and hear how things have changed in America and the world in less than 3 years. We all know there are greater changes in store for 2023 but do we know what those changes will be? The founder and Executive Director of the World Economic Forum in Davos produced a video preparing us for what and when the changes he and his followers will try to implement. Are we prepared for this? Are we preparing for greater changes than these?
We knew bitter cold weather was heading our way here at Christmas. We knew the arctic blast would be something different than we had seen so we prepared the best we could. Despite the preparation pipes still froze, people still died and power companies couldn’t meet the demand. Knowing the change coming doesn’t always favor the prepared mind as Louis Pasteur once said, but it does favor the prepared heart.
Louis Pasteur changed the face of science and medicine in the 19th-century. Pasteur was a bacteriologist credited with discovering the principles of vaccination. Pasteur’s contributions to science, technology, and medicine are nearly without precedent as he pioneered the study of molecular asymmetry; discovered that microorganisms cause fermentation and disease; originated the process of pasteurization; saved the beer, wine, and silk industries in France; and developed vaccines against anthrax and rabies. Years of study and research led to his most famous saying, “Chance favors the prepared mind.”
Football coaches remind players to keep their heads on a swivel to be prepared and see change before it happens. Sports fans may have seen the video of Deion Sanders preparing his new football team at Colorado for the changes ahead. Deion told his followers, “I’m coming. And when I get here, there’s gonna be change. So get ready.” Prepare for the change that is coming.
Coaches, politicians at Davos and anyone can TRY to bring change but only ONE person has a perfect record at predicting and bringing the exact change they promised. One of His most famous quotes was when He said, “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe I am who I am.” Yes, what he was talking about came to fruition.
Change often happens when you least expect it so we need to live ready. Jesus said, “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” In other words, stay ready so you don’t have to get ready. Chance may favor the prepared mind so be prepared.
The writer of the 39th book of Psalms put it best. “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.” In other words, help me be prepared for the last change I’ll see.
The past few years have reminded everyone that life altering change can come suddenly and unexpectedly. As we look into 2023 and prepare for the next changes we KNOW are coming, lets return to the OG. Remember, He is batting 1000 for predicting and instituting change. He is so confident in his ability to predict and institute change, He put it in black and white for all to see…and never forget.
Let these words shape your season of Advent beginning tomorrow.
……..’Then I saw “a new heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Book it. Be prepared for this change. It will happen.
Christmas Day may be over in a few hours, but our season of Advent is not.