Of Advent and Stories

As I write stories and pen novels God puts on my heart, I accidentally discovered... (spoiler alert)

Every story finally ends with wickedness punished and the good rewarded at last.

But I never noticed this theme until studying Advent on a dawning morning of December. This is why.

I remember writing the end of The Way of the King, my fantasy-allegorical novel, and pausing with a heavy question in my hands:

How can this story portray the hope, mercy, and grace of God our Father... while also not ignoring His righteousness, anger at sin, and position as Judge?

I felt the heart-rending tension and hurt of even the vilest characters in my book and wanted them shown mercy alongside the "kinda bad" sidekicks... yet at some point, it was too late. Their decision was made.

Every person eventually had to receive their just due.

As I penned the end of the story, heart aching, I saw God's mercy even in those terrible moments of just wrath, because His goodness cannot allow any sinful thing to tarnish His coming Kingdom.

But in that moment, I saw other broken, humble characters—unlikely heroes—receive the sweetest of endings to their story, not because of their perfection but because they gave their lives to their King, allowed His mercy to cover them, and He was their trust.

Today, I saw the same themes in Advent.

The word "advent" means "coming" or "arrival." It's the season of days leading up to Christmas as we anticipate Jesus' first coming. 

It's a beautiful time to remember! God-made-flesh—Emmanuel—came as a beacon of hope and tidings of comfort and joy! He fulfilled prophesies from loyal prophets who believed God 700 years before!

What struck me was one of the first messages of the Gospels after the nativity story:

At that time John the Baptizer appeared on the scene, proclaiming a very important message in the Judean wilderness. “Repent,” he declared, “for the Kingdom of Heaven is drawing near!”

Matthew 3:1-2

And the response,

 

... people from Jerusalem and all Judea and the entire region along the Jordan kept going out to him and were being baptized in the Jordan River by him, openly acknowledging their sins.

Matthew 3:5-6

Advent is done, Jesus is on the scene, and the messages begins with repentance.

Then Jesus begins preaching with the same message:

From that time Jesus began proclaiming this message: “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is drawing near!”

Matthew 4:17

Advent opens the stage for the first step of salvation. Jesus' message of salvation, hope, and mercy begins with a call for honest repentance. Then His cross and resurrection made all the difference for the ending of our stories—we can receive full forgiveness and be partakers of His coming Kingdom!

So I'm entering the Advent season enjoying the beauty of white lights, floppy Christmas hats, anticipation, carols (!), but I'm also beginning it with a heart crying out to my Father in repentance and asking Him to reveal any sin in me first.

Because Advent means "coming"... both His first coming as a babe to bring hope of salvation, but we also eagerly await His second Advent when Jesus will reign as King. That Day will be one of justice, punishment, of the wrath of God being poured out because no sinful thing may enter His Kingdom.

But for those who confess their sin and put their trust in Jesus, the second Advent is pure restoration. Ah, that's also tidings of comfort and joy!

For if you acknowledge your allegiance with your lips by professing Jesus as Lord, and have faith in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

If we are willing to confess our sins, however, God is faithful, yes, and true to his name, and so will forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from every kind of wickedness.

1 John 1:9

Today, in the middle, we're invited to "come to the Jordan" in a sense, and that's a joy of Advent! We have an open invitation to forgiveness... just like the villains in my story are invited to repentance, change... until it's too late.

And that's part of the huge love of God: He is waiting, giving every soul time to follow Him!

Sometimes I wonder how much the waiting—while people suffer—hurts His own heart.

That's why I love writing the endings of books, because at last, the character walks in truth and sees the reward of the hardships and trials that wove through their story, and there's reward, rest, restoration!

But their middles determine what their endings are.

I feel Jesus calling me to examine my life and receive forgiveness. To get serious about sin and not let it linger. To come to Him in repentance and walk in a life of forgiven, powerful grace. And then embrace Advent.

That's a beauty and hope as we start Advent.

So happy beginning of December, friend! ♥ May we walk in peace, humility, and unity with our King Jesus until the Day He comes home.

~♥~