My four-year-old nephew quivered on the side of the public pool. It was not a cold day that made him shiver. He was a mingled mass of fear and anticipation. I stood chest-deep in the water, arms outstretched, beckoning him to jump. But Calvin only knew the shallow end of the pool where his own legs could carry him to safety. These waters were dangerously deeper.
Just when I was about to give up, he catapulted himself toward me with reckless abandon. He was swimming before he ever hit the water. A few mad strokes and he was in my arms … smiling ear to ear, teeth chattering with excitement. I praised him for his bravery and walked him back to the edge of the pool. This time, he hesitated only seconds before leaping from his safe place. I don’t know how many times he jumped that day, but he could barely wait for me to reach my spot before going airborne. His fear was replaced by faith and joy in the one catching him.
Last week, we lit the Candle of Hope reminding us that God’s people in other times waited and hoped for the anticipated Messiah. Then, Jesus Christ was born fulfilling that hope. God kept his Word to his people long ago.
Today we light a new candle, the Candle of Faith. It reminds us that the God who kept His word in the past will keep it for our future. By faith Christ lives in our hearts and by faith we watch for His promised return. This hope … this faith teaches us how to live.
As Paul wrote in Titus 2:11-14, For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Let this Christmas season teach us to leave our norms and safety to follow our Savior wholeheartedly. The same One who saved you from sin and death also holds your future.
