Note: This article was inspired by a sermon preached by Rev. Carey Richards. With her permission, I have edited it to be an article for the Webb Weekly.

This week’s theme for Advent is preparation. Remember, Advent means coming – and part of the Advent celebration involves preparing for Jesus’ return.

Preparing to be in the presence of God is no trivial thing. When God was about to speak to the people of Israel at Mt. Sinai, He had Moses instruct them to prepare – to consecrate themselves by washing their clothes and refraining from sexual relations. When Isaiah was called by God, an angel prepared him by touching his lips with a hot coal to remove his guilt and atone for his sin. When God was about to walk among His people in the person of Jesus Christ, He sent John the Baptist to prepare the way by confronting sin and calling the people to repentance.

We often think of prophets as people who foretold the future, which they sometimes did, but the prophets were primarily confrontive truth-tellers. They told Israel what God expected of them and that there would be consequences if they didn’t obey. Parents are kind of like prophets – they tell their children what is expected and then give the consequences if directions are not followed.

John the Baptist was a confrontive truth-telling prophet. He knew that One more powerful than he was coming and the people must get ready. His primary message was to repent, to turn away from things that kept them from completely trusting in God. He confronted the religious elite and their sense of entitlement. He confronted the tax collectors and soldiers and corrupt leaders. Frankly, he confronted everyone by calling on them to change behaviors that were not pleasing to God. Jesus was about to be with them, and they needed to get ready to be in the presence of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Along with confrontation, John also brought comfort. After 400 years of silence, God was once again speaking to His people. How comforting it must have been to know that God had not forgotten them and that He was prepared to claim them as His own by keeping the promises He had made to their ancestors!

We all need people in our lives who are truth-telling prophets. The kind of people who are truly sincere when they give us a compliment – and have our best interests at heart when they confront us with our painful realities. It is very comforting to know that they see our flaws, but love and accept us anyway.

God loves us just the way we are, but He loves us too much to let us stay that way. This bitter-sweet mixture of confrontation and comfort is what leads us toward holiness and the fulfillment of our divine potential.

Consider how the Lord’s Supper simultaneously confronts and comforts. Remembering the death of our Lord and Savior reminds us that He died because of our sinfulness. Jesus’ words, this is my body given for you and this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you are reminiscent of the sin offerings that Israel would have observed under the Old Covenant. They echo the prophecy of the suffering servant in Isaiah who was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. The Lord’s supper confronts us with the reality that we don’t always live up to God’s will for us, but it also comforts by reminding us of God’s love and grace and that by His wounds, we are healed.

Friends, are you ready for the return of Jesus Christ? Have you repented of your sin and given Jesus Christ the full Lordship of your life? If not, then please consider Jesus’ prophecy about His return given in Luke 24, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

The truth is this: if you’re not ready when Jesus returns, then you will be left behind. Being confronted by that truth may be painful or even offensive, but if you don’t know, you cannot prepare. In love, Jesus wants you to know the truth so that you can be ready – and so His return will be something anticipated and filled with joy! My friend, He loves you and is ready to receive you into His family. What would keep you from knowing that comfort today? Because He is patient, He has given you time to prepare. But make no mistake, He is coming soon. Are you ready?