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This Sunday, the Advent season begins.

Many churches will read and preach from the Scriptures as given in the Revised Common Lectionary.

In this series I am sharing my own thoughts as I have pondered the RCL readings.

Since the first meditation in this series has already been published in the Nov. 20-22 edition of The Sun, in this article I offer thoughts about observing Advent, which lead to additional comments from this Sunday’s readings.

Advent readings for Nov. 29, 2020:

• Isaiah 64:1-9

• Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

• 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

• Mark 13:24-37

It seems like the whole period between Thanksgiving and Christmas has become a time to celebrate with one party after another, even for many who do not actually celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Rather than Christmas beginning “the party,” by the end of Christmas Day, it’s easy to be partied out.

2020 will be different for most.

Many Christians who observe the Advent season talk about “celebrating Advent.” However, I don’t think “celebrating” is the most helpful way to think about it.

Traditionally, Advent has been a season of fasting, reflection and repentance, mostly focused on being prepared for Jesus’ second coming, when he will return to Earth to finally cleanse the world of evil and fully unveil his reign. Advent observed in this way is an anticipation of the future more than a celebration of the past.

The second coming is like a two-edged sword.

Those established by faith in Jesus rejoice as we “wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13 NET), as the apostle Paul expressed it.

But Jesus is also coming again to establish God’s righteousness and justice on the Earth — to deal with the wicked, to vindicate the righteous,and to judge the secrets of people’s hearts. That day will be a fearful day for those who have rejected Jesus as King and who are not in Christ.

Even as we wait in joyful anticipation for Jesus to return, God’s people dare not become complacent and careless.

Yes, we have reason to stand firm in the confidence that we are secure in Christ. Jesus the great Shepherd King himself, assures us: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29 NASB)

Paul’s letter to the messed-up church in Corinth reminds us that we who are in Christ Jesus are “awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:7b-8 NASB)

And yet, there are also many Scriptures that warn us to make sure we are ready for Jesus’ return.

For example, Paul exhorts us, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you–unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5 NASB)

The Advent season is a great time to “take the test,” as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the King who came to seek and save the lost, to offer his own flesh and blood for the life of the world, and who will return to culminate his victory over the darkness, sin, death, and the devil,

Paul exhorted the church in Colossae, “[Jesus] has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel…” (Colossians 1:22-23 NASB)

Similarly, Peter, after instructing us to grow in faith so that we will be fruitful and useful, goes on to warn us that failure to grow will leave one “blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” (2 Peter 1:9-11 NASB)

James 2:14-26 tells us clearly that real faith in Jesus will produce real works, “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (2:26 NASB)

These and other such sober exhortations challenge us to take seriously Jesus’ warnings in this Sunday’s reading from Mark 13.

“But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

“Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. …Therefore, be on the alert–for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all, `Be on the alert!’ ” (Mark 13:32-33, 35-37 NASB)

Steve Humble serves as an elder at Winchester Covenant Church. He can be reached at 771-7138 or by email at steve.g.humble@gmail.com .