Your redemption is drawing near!

                                   A little food for weekend Advent thought--
       "Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Lk 21:28)
       Bonhoeffer declared, in an Advent sermon given in London in December, 1933--
       "'Look up and raise your heads' (Lk 21:28 RsV).  Advent creates people, new people.  We too are supposed to become new people in Advent.  Look up, you whose gaze is fixed on the earth, who are spellbound by the little events and changes on the face of the earth.  Look up to these words, you who have turned away from heaven disappointed.  Look up, you whose eyes are heavy with tears...Look up, you who, burdened with guilt, cannot lift your eyes.  Look up, your redemption is drawing near...
        You know what a mine disaster is...The moment even the most courageous miner has dreaded his whole life long is here.  It is no use running into the walls; the silence all around him remains...The way out for him is blocked.  He knows the people up there are working feverishly to reach the miners who are buried alive.  Perhaps someone will be rescued, but here in the las shaft?  An agonizing period of waiting and dying is all that remains.
        But suddenly a noise that sounds like tapping and breaking in the rock can be heard.  Unexpectedly, voices cry out, 'Where are you, help is on the way!'  Then the disheartened miner picks himself up, his heart leaps, he shouts, 'Here I am, come on through and help me!  I'll hold out until you come!  Just come soon!'  A final, desperate hammer blow to his ear, now the rescue is near, just one more step and he is free.
        We have spoken of Advent itself.  That is how it is with the coming of Christ: 'Look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.'"
        How thankful I am that Christ came...and that He is coming again.  Advent is a reminder and a celebration both of His first coming and of His second coming.  Only when He comes again, it will not be as a helpless infant or a humble, suffering servant giving His life as a ransom for many.  No, it will be as the conquering King of Glory, the mighty Lion of Judah come to claim His own, destroy the powers of darkness, and establish His everlasting kingdom of righteousness and peace.
        Sometimes, in the midst of a world so topsy turvy, we need to stop and remember to "Look up and raise our heads" for He has come...and He is coming again.  Death, destruction, despair, disappointment do not, not, not have the final word!
        Advent reminds us: don't lose heart.  He has come; He is coming again; and your redemption and rescue is drawing ever nearer.  Rejoice!  To God be the glory.