Already, Not Yet
We returned home this afternoon travelling a familiar road. On many holidays gone by we went over the highway and through little towns to grandmother’s house. Familiar landscapes, winter trees and cloudy skies refreshed our memories and surfaced nostaglic feelings, enhanced by the music of the season filling our ears. We commented to one another how this year raced by. Have you felt that way too?
We returned home this afternoon travelling a familiar road. On many holidays gone by we went over the highway and through little towns to grandmother’s house. Familiar landscapes, winter trees and cloudy skies refreshed our memories and surfaced nostaglic feelings, enhanced by the music of the season filling our ears. We commented to one another how this year raced by. Have you felt that way too?
I’m thankful for seasons of celebrations and for many of us this season is a favorite. I love the title, Advent, assigned by the historical church for over 2000 years. Advent means "coming" or "arrival" and in so many ways during these days we experience the excitement of that long awaited first advent. Yet, if we are honest, even as we celebrate there remains the nagging recognition that all things are not yet as they were meant to be. Strained relationships often surface at these times. Absent loved ones leave an empty place. We realize how we celebrate during what some have called the time of "already but not yet." We are already in relationship with Him, yet we have not yet entered into the full restoration that comes with His second advent. Sometimes even in celebration we groan inwardly.
Recently in Romans 8 I discovered how appropriate groaning is in this time between the two advents. Creation groans. We groan. Even the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. Sometimes I forget that I am not home yet, that things are not yet as they will be one day. At those times I tend to gripe about my circumstances, the economy, the culture, the traffic. I think a better understanding of reality would be to let myself "groan" to God about my particular issues and choose to put my focus on His promise of intercession and understanding. Groaning isn’t wrong; griping isn’t productive. Prayerful groaning draws my heart to His in a personal way.
Jesus first advent demonstrated the depth of His love for us. Remembering that as we celebrate gives us hope for the future. Most advent celebrations include readings that highlight the second advent as well. We are reminded that just as He came in fulfillment of the promised first advent, so He will just as surely return at His second advent to set all things right at last.
So, this season, as we celebrate, and as some sorrow, let us encourage one another to anticipate that greatest day of celebration yet to come.
Gwynne Johnson
Gwynne Johnson currently serves on the Board of Entrust, Inc., an international education and training mission where she authored the Entrust curriculum, Developing a Discerning Heart. She recently served as Co-Chair of the training project, Christian Women in Partnership, Russia and as Senior Director of Women's Ministry at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Gwynne has a M.A. in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She currently lives in Huntsville, Texas with her husband of 58 years, Don. She works part-time in her daughter and granddaughter's bakery "The Best Box Ever," where she gets paid in cookies.
