Advent 2: The Candle of LOVE

Advent provides a wonderful reminder of the enduring love of God and, even more so, the nature of God who is the very essence of Love!

In 1984 the pop band ‘Journey’ released their hit single, “I want to know what love is.” It was an instant hit. The lyrics of the chorus stated, “I wanna know what love is, I want you to show me. I wanna feel what love is, I know you can show me.” What inspired the lyrics of this song? What made it so popular? Was it because it was a great song? Was it because it had a catchy tune? Maybe it was because it expressed the heart cry of a world desperate for significance and to know the true meaning of real love.

Another song released a few years earlier that also became an instant hit seemed to highlight the insignificance of a generation. Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the wall” suggested that there is nothing special or significant about us; we are all just “bricks in the wall.”

The world has become disillusioned with its experience of love and is desperately seeking for something deeper and more meaningful, a real love. Could we have the answer?

The second candle of Advent reminds us that love that comes from this world is indeed empty and short-lived, if it does not have a solid and unshakeable foundation to build on. The world’s love is an empty shell and a mere shadow of the real love it longs for and needs. It pales when set against the light, depth, and truth of God’s love, real love!

God’s love is more than a mere emotion but is founded on the very nature and character of the God that offers it to us. God IS love we are told in 1John 4:8.

As we revisit the story of Christmas this Advent season, we are reminded by the lighting of this second and special candle that the Christ child is the love that the world is looking for. Love has come into the world!

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law that we might receive adoption to sonship.” Galatians 4:4-5

I love this passage of Scripture! In just two short verses it captures the entire Christmas story of God’s amazing love. In it we find the sad condition of mankind set against the enduring and extravagant love of a sovereign and loving God! It is the love we long for and the expression of love that God so extravagantly offers.

“When the set time had fully come” Time does not dim God’s love nor does God’s love fade over the passage of time. Throughout human history God’s enduring love drove Him forward to fully form the plan He had created in order to redeem us. In fact, as we look back over the events of history, we see the hand of a loving God who controls and engineers all things to carefully bring to fruition His plan and purpose.
“Born of a woman, born under the law” God does not randomly select a way to manifest His plan of love to the world. He carefully chose a method and then, because He is a just God, He executed that plan according to the method He had laid out. Genesis 3:15 gives us a glimpse of the plan to redeem mankind. The covenant of love between Abraham and God further describes what God is doing. The prophets Malachi (4:2) and Micah (5:2) point us forward with anticipation, and Isaiah proclaims “…the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’)” (7:14). Love is excited about its purpose and seeks to make it known!
“to redeem those under the law” God’s plan and purpose was to rescue man from His sin, something man could not do for himself. We were destined for death and destruction if it was not for the love of God. His purpose in sending His one and only Son was to give us a way out, to rescue and save us from our sin (John 3:16). His plan and purpose was a plan of love!

“I want to know what love is… I want you to show me” pleads the band, Journey. This story of love is too amazing, too awesome, too wonderful to keep to ourselves. We live in a world longing to know what real love is, so how can we keep it quiet and to ourselves. We have to tell it. We are compelled to proclaim it. We have to share what we have received and experienced and let them know that it is for them too.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”” Isaiah 52:7