The PassionSample

Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I love the nativity story. It’s the story of Jesus’ humble beginnings: born to Joseph the carpenter and the virgin Mary. They were in the midst of their travels when Mary went into labour and found an inn where the only room available was a meagre stable with a manger. It was there where the Son of God was given to humanity as a gift and fulfillment of God’s promises to us.

Contrast this arrival to what we read in Matthew 24:19-31. We’re given a description of a triumphant and glorious entrance of the Son of Man. He’s coming on clouds with trumpet's sound and bringing His followers to heaven, and the home we were truly made for.

We might look around today and lament this. Whilst we have been offered and are able to receive this amazing free gift of grace and the ability to live in freedom from our sin, we still see and experience the realities of sin and the brokenness of our world—the suffering, sickness and day-to-day struggles. We find ourselves in a ‘now but not yet’ situation.

Jesus paints a picture here of a hope-filled glory and a promise of what is to come. Sometimes it’s hard to see, sometimes it’s hard to comprehend. But we know that our God never lies, that we can trust in His steadfast love, and that this world will be restored when He returns. He will gather all those who believe and trust in Him from all over the world, to dwell with Him in heaven.

So make no mistake: Jesus’ return will be unmissable and unforgettable, and we can look forward to this glorious and wonderful day with confidence.

Today, ponder this: Do you trust Jesus’ words here in Matthew? In what ways might we doubt these things? Find solace and rest in Christ’s words, that our future is crowned with glory, no matter what our lives look like today.