Advent: Always Winter and Never Christmas

In C.S. Lewis' "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" the land of Narnia is under the Witch's curse so that it is "Always winter and Never Christmas". The Narnians live in the cold and dark of winter without being able to look forward to the joy of Christmas and the hope of a new year. The Narnians are waiting to be rescued from the White Witch, but it seems like there is no hope.

At the time of the prophet Isaiah, God's people werewaiting to be rescued from Babylonian. But hope was coming! Isaiah spoke:

"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress...

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light...

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given...

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Hundreds of years later, when Jesus was born people were waiting to be rescued, this time from the Romans. When Jesus was grown he stood up in the temple and read the words of Isaiah saying:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

"Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

The time had come!

When Aslan returns to Narnia the ice begins to melt. The children are visited by Father Christmas- hope has returned to Narnia.

Aslan has come, but the children still have roles to play and a battle to fight in.

When Jesus came, he set in motion the plan for the salvation of the world, but we are Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan, joining him in battle, bringing his plan to fulfilment. Today, people are still waiting for the time to come. People are still waiting to be saved, set free from slavery, addiction, brokenness, lonliness... These are people we know.

PRAY: Lord, thankyou that the time is come. Thank you that you are saving us. Thankyou that you have given us a part to play in your plan of salvation. Show us the needs of those around us. Show us how to meet those needs. Amen.