Thought I’d throw out my recent sermon about why Advent is about more than waiting for Christmas – it’s about watching for Christ.
Are you ready for Christmas?
Probably not.
Join the club.
Are you ready for CHRIST?
I hope so.
From Bethlehem to the Beginning
We all know the first Christmas happened at Bethlehem, but the truth is it was promised from the very beginning. Before the foundation of the world, God – who has good plans and purposes for us – knew we would need a Saviour. All of the Old Testament is the story of how He prepared the world for Jesus’ first coming.
But Advent doesn’t begin at a manger.
It begins with a message: He will come again.
Every year at Ivy we like to do things a little differently, so we will talk about the second coming of Jesus before we rush to the Nativity, because we need to remember where the story is going: forward, not back.
Knowing who Christmas is about helps us avoid going mad at Christmas. No need to plunge into the December debt spiral. Rein it in now so you can start next year better, putting the Lord first in your priorities, your planning, your ambitions – and yes, your finances.
That only makes sense when you live with a different viewpoint: eyes up, kingdom first.
The King We’re Waiting For
The Jesus who is going to return soon is worlds apart from the one on your Christmas cards.
No donkey.
No swaddling cloths.
But a white horse.
Many crowns.
Blazing fire in His eyes.
“Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True… He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.”
(Revelation 19:11–13)
The Word of God – Jesus- is coming again.
Before He left, He told His disciples exactly what to expect:
“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man… and all peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.”
(Matthew 24:30)
The same Jesus placed in a cradle and nailed to a cross will return wearing the crown.
So Advent isn’t so much about waiting for Christmas.
It’s about watching for the King.
Are We in the Last Days? (Spoiler: Yes.)
The study of Jesus’ return is called eschatology, but you don’t need a PhD to understand the basics. Scripture tells us to be watchful, prepared, expectant.
So — the big question:
Are we in the last days?
Absolutely!!
How do we know?
Joel said so 2,800 years ago, and Peter confirmed it on the Day of Pentecost.
Joel prophesied:
“I will pour out my Spirit on all people…”
(Joel 2:28–29)
And Peter stood up in Acts 2 and said:
“This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit…”
(Acts 2:16–17)
The moment the Spirit was poured out on God’s people, the last days began.
We were born into the last days.
The last days are a season – the period between Jesus’ ascension and His return. But Scripture also speaks about the Day– the Day of the Lord, the Day Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead.
What Will ‘The Day’ Be Like?
Paul writes:
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven… and the dead in Christ will rise first.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:16)
Jesus said His return will be like the days of Noah – people carrying on with life, oblivious, until suddenly the flood came.
He told story after story showing that many will be caught off guard. Half-ready, half-not. Not because He wanted to scare us — but to prepare us.
Jesus didn’t ask,
“Will they figure out the date?”
He asked:
“When the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth?”
(Luke 18:8)
That’s the question that matters now — and then. So: how do we live ready?
Live today like it could be that day.
Not obsessed with dates.
Not scanning conspiracy theories.
Not panicking.
But prepared.
Jesus said nobody knows the exact hour—not the angels, not even the Son- but He did give us signs.
Which do you think are happening?
Four Major Signs Jesus Gave Us
1. An increase in lawlessness and lies
“Watch out that no one deceives you… Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…”
(Matthew 24:4–5, 12–13)
Moral inversion.
Truth denied.
False teachers applauded.
People creating “my truth” instead of submitting to God’s truth.
2. An increase in persecution
All over the world believers are being killed for following Jesus. It doesn’t make many headlines here, but it’s reality.
And the question I need to answer isn’t, “Does this prove it’s the last days?”
The question is,
“Would I stand – if that were me?” Because if we can’t speak for Jesus when the cost is a raised eyebrow, how will we stand if the cost is our life?
3. The rise of the antichrist spirit
Anything that opposes Jesus, denies Jesus, replaces Jesus, or tries to exalt itself above God carries the antichrist spirit.
John said:
“Even now many antichrists have come.”
(1 John 2:18)
We see this spirit everywhere – not just in global politics, but in ideologies, identities, technologies, and cultural narratives that deny the deity of Christ or tell humanity, “You don’t need God. You are god.”
4. The gospel preached everywhere
“This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world… and then the end will come.”
(Matthew 24:14)
This is happening faster than ever. Not just through stadiums and preachers, but through ordinary Spirit-filled Christians, courageously sharing Jesus one conversation at a time.
This is why Ivy exists: to proclaim Jesus urgently, boldly, everywhere, by every means possible.
And yes — there’s pushback.
There always has been.
But we’ve read the end of the book.
Jesus wins.
What Will It Be Like When He Comes?
When the sky tears open and every eye sees Him, we’ll all pray.
Some will pray,
“Oh God — my God — save me!”
Others will cry,
“Oh God — hide me from Him!”
But every knee will bow.
Every tongue confess.
Every soul acknowledge the truth they spent a lifetime ignoring:
Jesus Christ is Lord.
He said he was going to prepare a place for us.
He will return to take us home. But will we be ready?
How to Be Ready
The first question God will ask everyone at death or the end of time is:
“What have you done with my Son?”
If you’ve said yes to Jesus – you’ve got nothing to fear.
If you haven’t – the best you’ll ever get, is whatever you have now.
Maybe we are wrong about all this!
Don’t risk eternity on a maybe.
Come to Him today.
And if you’re already following Him – don’t let assurance make you careless. Let it make you careful. Watchful. Faith-filled.
You show you’re ready for that day
by how you live in these days.
Live like a sentry, not a sleepwalker.
Stay alert.
Keep watch.
Be ready.
Make This Advent Count
When Jesus came the first time, hardly anyone was ready — even though Scripture predicted the place, the manner, and the moment.
Let’s not repeat that mistake.
This Advent, let’s lift our eyes.
Let’s set our hearts.
Let’s align our lives.
Let’s not just be ready for Christmas.
Let’s be ready for Christ.