Or is it? We do not know how long the wait will be until the Son returns to earth for the Final Judgement. We have waited through Advent, and the Christ Child has been born. Soon, he will receive a visit from the three Wise Men with special gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  

The Bible doesn’t give us much guidance on when the visitors actually appeared in Bethlehem. However, we do get a taste of the trials to come for the newborn child. His life will be dogged by controversy and finally death all for us.  

At this stage of His life, Joseph and Mary will take the baby and their meager belongings and flee to Egypt to escape the cruel killing of innocent children by Herod, who thought that he could change destiny. He could not.  

Just like the crucifixion could not be avoided. These events were necessary to fulfill the prophecies found in the Old Testament and to bring about our redemption.  

However, we are back to waiting for another reason: the second coming of Christ. The early church persisted in thinking that the second coming was imminent, and they spent their time preparing for that visitation.  

Who knows when that time will be? Only the One who will come at the appointed time. We are still expected to spend our time preparing for this reappearance of the Lord. Who knows what “imminent” means in God Time?  

We prepare by following the instructions which Christ gave us when He walked the earth. Love God above everything else; and love your neighbor as yourself. He loves us unconditionally, no matter what we have done or failed to do.  

This command makes quite a New Year’s Resolution. Are you up for it? Who knows, your wait may be over, and Christ may come in this new year. Happy 2026! 

Terri