Expectations

With all the shootings and bombings almost on a daily basis, it seems the world is out of control.

Recently, the attacks in San Bernardino California prompted news reporters to say in frustration:

Some no doubt had thought to themselves: “God is not fixing things.” Is it no wonder then that

when God promised to send them someone who would set them free- they expected a warrior

king to set them free from the oppression of the Roman Empire. That was something they could

dream and talked about.

And then one day, they woke up to the un-expectant sound of a man dressed in camel’s hair,

crying out in the wilderness a message of repentance delivered with such a certainty and urgency

that it was hard to ignore. And why the urgency? To prepare the way of the Lord. How? Repent?

Who me? I’m the victim here- What about the other guy- what about the Romans? But God’s

message of repentance begins with every heart. We have all fallen short of the glory of God.

What did you expect? As we prepare for Christmas- what do you expect of God? Pray.

see right through your outward appearances. It is the heart that He wants- a pure heart- cleansed

from within.

People living in the Old Testament lived under the law- a law that was not subtle by any means.

They knew with no uncertainty what was required of them and the consequences of breaking the

law was plain to see. It required the blood of an innocent animal. The sacrifices were gory and

unmerciful. It was required not once- but every day- year after year. The bleating of lambs as

they were laid on the altar and their blood running down the altar were a reminder to them of the

If we look at the law as only a bunch of dos and don’ts- we miss the purpose of the law. The law

was given to us because of love. Through the law we see a Father who wants the best for us- who

in His wisdom and love- wants to guide us and protect us from harm. Like a mirror that shows us

works. People try- but it is an impossible thing to accomplish on our own.

In contrast- the message central to the gospel is that God has come to us first- died for us while

we were yet sinners- paid the price of our sins in full- that without exception- there is nothing we

can do to save ourselves- we are saved by grace through faith alone. Grace alone, faith alone,

Christ alone. Period.

So why then do we need to repent? Why did God send John the Baptist to prepare his coming

with a message of repentance? Before we can answer that question, we first need to know what

repentance is. Repentance is not simply being sorry for being caught with our hand in the cookie

jar. Repentance is knowing the seriousness of our sins- wishing we hadn’t done what we have

done, thought or said because we realize it has separated us from God and others.

saying: “Create in me a clean heart, O God. And put a new and right sprit within me. Cast me

not away from Thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy

salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

Repentance is turning to God – it is worshipping God in Spirit and truth as we lay our hearts

open before a holy and righteous and almighty God’s mercy.

stemmed from a chapel talk at the Christian University he heard based on I Corinthians 13-

known as the love chapter. Apparently the words made him uncomfortable when he realized he

was not as loving as he should be and it made him uncomfortable and wanted it stopped.

Thankfully, the president of the university responded with a rebuke saying that our culture has

taught our kids to be self-absorbed, narcissistic students and told the student that what he had felt

was what they called back in Tennessee a “come to Jesus” moment.

The bible tells us in Hebrews that: “the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any two

edged sword- piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the

thought and intentions of the heart.” That is what God’s word does through the working of the

complaining that they were a victim of religious judgment? No. People were convicted of their

sins and willingly came forward to be baptized in the river. That young college student was

convicted of his sins too- it was a “come to Jesus” moment for him too- but instead chose not to

come.

What does the world expect of Christmas? For the most part- society wants it to be a time to eat

and be merry and do their best to forget their problems and forget about God. But Christmas is

about remembering what God has done for us and giving our problems to Him.

God has made a way – done the work- won the battle- set us free from the power of sin, death

and the power of the devil. We as a nation need to repent and turn to God- and it begins with

each heart- our own hearts.