Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

December surely is on its way.  Shoppers are out.  The air is brisk.  Holiday flicks are populating my Netflix profile. Wish-Lists are carefully and purposely popping up on my kitchen counter and night stand.  And the wonderful sounds of Christmas Carols are in the air.  So, let´s pick up where we left off yesterday.

The hymn “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” is a clear example, at least to me, of an Advent song that sings about the longing of every Christian’s heart for the return of his/her King.  We have, indeed, been waiting a long time…since His Holy birth, until now it has been two millenniums!  God’s time is not our own and His ways are not our ways, so we don’t despair.  We continue trusting.  Generation after generation, we keep the faith and hang on to the truth of His second coming…for He promised. 

In the meantime, we remain in Him as He remains in us.  He sets us free from everything that binds us and enslaves us…and we rest in Him.  He has already delivered us.  The King that came as a Babe rules in our hearts and we know that one day, one glorious day, He will bring His kingdom down for us to see, and to reign in this world, as He reigns in Heaven, forever.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus

Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us,

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel’s Strength and Consolation,

Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear Desire of every nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,

Born a child and yet a King,

Born to reign in us forever,

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By Thine all sufficient merit,

Raise us to Thy glorious throne

May this Advent be a reminder that even though we’ve have seemingly waited for a long while, He is never late.  He is always on time.