You’ve made it! Christmas Eve 2020 - congratulations! All the Christmas lists prompting you to shop, cook, clean, decorate with tinsel - it’ll all pay off tomorrow… maybe? As I write this, greater Sydney is on the brink of more restrictions, as the COVID-19 virus makes its presence felt again.

Regardless of what stage your preparations are at, I’m sure you’ll agree, it’s been a helpful tinsel-declutter for our hearts and minds reflecting on Luke’s Christmas songs this week. Zechariah, the angels, Mary and Simeon - they’ve been a timely prompt to get ready in a different way, not for gifts and feasts but a preparation for remembering the wonder of the coming of Emmanuel, God with us. After centuries of waiting by God’s people, the expectations, hopes and promises were finally realised, albeit in a surprising way at Christ’s first coming - Mary’s boy, the baby in a manger.

Especially tomorrow, we will rightfully and joyfully celebrate that the Christ has come! But today, it’s his second coming that I want to turn our minds to. Approximately 33 years after his birth, we know that the Lord Jesus Christ died - on a cross, in our place, taking the punishment we deserve for our rejection of God (1 Peter 3:18). But we also know that his death wasn’t the end. Three days after his death and burial, we read in all four of the New Testament gospels of an empty tomb (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24, John 20-21). And the future-determining news: He is not here, he is risen! (Luke 24:6)

That news changed everything, because the hope of eternal life, life beyond the grave, became a reality that day (1 Corinthians 15:12-20). And so now, those who trust in Jesus’ death on their behalf, don’t only look forward to Christmas morn. We look forward to the dawn of eternity, when Christ comes again.

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18)

Jesus Christ has indeed died and risen again, so we look ahead to resurrection life with him, forever. It’s an encouragement that when he comes again all those who are in Him will rise to new life with him.

And just as God prepared His people for the coming of his Son, all those centuries ago, God shows us how to prepare ourselves, on the ‘eve’ of the second coming of his Son.

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. (1 Thessalonians 5:8-10)

So, let me encourage you to put the clamour of Christmas fun and festivities aside - take a moment to reflect on how you might put on faith, love and hope. Do prepare the ham and presents - but more significantly, prepare yourself for Christ’s second coming. That preparation doesn’t need you to wait for December to roll around, or mood-setting carols on play, or even tinsel. It’s the preparation that belongs to our everyday, as we look ahead to His return. Now is the eve of his return!

So whether your Christmas is similar to last year, or a little different in this unusual year, I hope you’ll make the opportunity to rejoice and give thanks for the coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ - first as a baby and finally, as he brings our resurrection life.

But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
And myriad, myriad human voices sing,
And earth to heaven, and heaven to earth, will answer:
At last the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is King. ( ‘I Cannot Tell’, Fullerton)

TASH LEONG

Tash has had a very different year in ministry, without any students on campus, as university moved online.

Her favourite ‘carol’ isn’t your usual pick. It’s one we don’t usually associate with Christmas, ‘I Cannot Tell’ which speaks about both of Christ’s comings.

'Twas the night before...