Welcome to Our World

Today as I was thinking back over the lesson from Malachi, I was reminded that despite God's promise that "the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple," it was some 400 years before Christ was born. Try to imagine how hard it was for the people of Israel to wait and wait and not see the promise fulfilled. But I'm reminded that the coming of Christ was promised first to Adam & Eve back in the garden of Eden. And I'm reminded of 2 Peter 3:9-10, where it says:

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

I love this song, written by Chris Rice, and how it would fit so well into the longing of the Jews, perhaps those shepherds out watching their sheep that night, waiting for their Messiah to come, and then to be able to see their baby Savior:

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God.
You've been promised, we've been waiting.
Welcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy Child. 

Hope that you don't mind our manger
How I wish we would have known.
But long-awaited Holy Stranger
Make Yourself at home.
Please make Yourself at home. 

Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled.
Word now breaking Heaven's silence.
Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world. 

Fragile finger sent to heal us.
Tender brow prepared for thorn.
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born. 

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod.
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God.
Welcome to our world.

Thinking of those 400 years of silence between Malachi and the birth of Christ, I realized that the Church has been waiting nearly 2000 years for the second advent, Christ's return. And I consider these words from Revelation 22:20:

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!