The first Advent calendar I remember had a little piece of chocolate hidden behind each day and I’m pretty sure my brothers had eaten their way through December 24 before the first week was over. I don’t remember the church I grew up in lighting Advent candles the Sundays leading up to Christmas so I didn’t fully appreciate the reverence of Advent until later in life. Advent was a season that was marked on the calendar but it really hadn’t marked my heart with its meaning.

Did you know ‘Advent’ is a Latin word that means “coming” or “arrival”? It is a season of remembrance and expectance and looking forward with great joy. What a beautiful story is told through the lighting of those candles and daily reminders of why we celebrate Jesus’ arrival…His birth at Christmas.

But we also live in another season of Advent. As believers, we find ourselves in a time of looking forward to our Savior’s second coming or arrival. Living between TWO Advents! Jesus promised in John 14:1-3 (NLT)  “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.“

How precious that promise is to our hearts to know that Jesus is preparing our heavenly home…and when EVERYTHING is ready…He is coming back for us! The magnificence…and the mystery…waiting between two Advents. Just think! We could be present for the second Advent of Christ!