Advent 2020 (day 3 of 26)

December 1, 2020 (Tuesday)

 

     This is day 3 of 26. 25 days until Christmas. In “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe,” C.S. Lewis described the effect of evil as making life “always winter but never Christmas.” The trouble is we tend to like winter. The snow blankets the ground. The sun hitting the snow causes it to sparkle like diamonds.

     We can be mesmerized by the beauty, until we begin to feel the weight of the short days. The lack of sunlight begins to drain us. The constant struggle to clear snow, the extra time to bundle before going outside, and those wet chills that set into the bones have a soul crushing effect. Still, we like winter, if it’s limited.

     Revelation 18 describes “something” that creates a spiritual winter without Christmas. The name is “Babylon.” There are four possible understandings of who Babylon is, in this chapter. It could be the actual Babylon. It could be Rome. It could be illustrative of another city or empire. It could be a church. All of them have been proposed throughout church history.

     Babylon is described as, “She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal.” [Revelation 18:2b NLT] Demons seems to have a clear meaning. The idea of “foul spirit” (or unclean spirit) is up for debate. What makes them different from a “demon?” This is poetry, where ideas in two clauses explain or expand each other.

     This verse also describes a non-spiritual component in “foul and dreadful animal.” The force here is that of detestable and disgusting influences manipulated by satanic beings. Verse three describes the practices of those who are influenced by them such as passionate immorality, adultery, and growing rich with extravagant luxury.

     It seems when God promises justice, or some may think of it as judgement, He also offers a chance for grace and mercy. “Then I heard another voice from heaven say, “Come out of her, my people, so that you don’t take part in her sins and don’t receive any of her plagues.” [Revelation 18:4 CEB] Here it is, instructions to not be part of the sins. Wait, does it say plagues … as in more than one?

     This all seems dark for an Advent thought. If you are following the liturgical calendar, this is one of the readings for today in the Revised Common Lectionary. You see, expectation of a deliverer is part of waiting for Jesus. As we wait, we prepare. This is not a passive sitting around with wishful thinking. It is a time of reflection, a time for repentance and removing ourselves from the sins of our culture, resulting in an expectation of a changed world. It is a time when we become energized to be the light in this dark world.

     I’m tired of this Grinch like mentality in our world which seeks to make it “always winter but never Christmas.” I don’t want to be sucked into the glare of the shiny carnival and the empty promises demons. I want to see Jesus.

     In contrast to the stark drabness of winter, we add color to the winter. The green of the evergreen, reminding people of God’s offer of everlasting life. The red of the holly berry, reminding people that the blood of Jesus still saves. The gold of the crown, reminding people of the King of glory’s return. Jesus Christ: crucified, risen, and coming again!