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Advent Devotional for Friday, December 3
In real estate the mantra is “Location, location, location.” In scripture reading, it is “Context, context, context.” The context in which “Pastor John” wrote Revelation was one in which Christians suffered extreme persecutions. The temptations they faced were to renounce their Lord and Savior (to escape the persecution) and to succumb to the debauchery of their society. John’s message to them was two-fold: Live righteous lives because there will be an accounting, and trust in the God who will make all things new.
Our context is certainly different from that of the early Christians, but there are similarities. We know the temptation to succumb: to a consumer culture; to a highly divided and often unproductive political environment; to dog-eat-dog, winner-takes-all competitive dynamics in the workplace and economy. (“American Idol” is indeed a telling name for what at heart is a talent show.)
In our “sophistication” as modern Christians, with strong emphasis on God’s love and grace, we find John’s images of judgment difficult. But surely we can believe that an accounting is due. At the very least, we can see this Christ-mass, for which we prepare, as God’s judgment on the earth; we need a Savior because we are incapable of saving ourselves.
Our context is also one that tempts us to lose hope. Or we place our hope in the political process, technology, education — any human construct. We are tempted to trust in ourselves (even ourselves as members of a Christian institution).
John’s loud voice suggests that our hope is in God who has defeated death and the grave—God who will make all things new, when there is indeed an end to our grief or crying or pain. In this Advent season of preparation, our challenge is to trust this Incarnating God. This trust is our victory in our context.
God our Creator, our Alpha and Omega, prepare us to celebrate your Incarnation. Give us awareness and courage to resist the idols of our culture. Give us, above all, the gift of trust in you that is the source of hope and confidence in our daily lives. In Emmanuel’s name. Amen.
C. Ellis Nelson (MDiv’40)
Research Professor of Christian Education
Michael F. Murray (MDiv’61)
President, Creative Interchange Consultants
For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.
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