Day 14 | The King is Coming: A Truth’s Table Advent Devotional
Jesus Coming
By: Ekemini Uwan
I may be just a foolish dreamer
But I don't care
'Cause I know my happiness is waiting out there somewhere
I'm searching for that silver lining
Horizons that I've never seen
Oh I'd like to take just a moment and dream my dream
Ohhh Dream my dream
Commodores
“Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see” (Heb. 11:1). How is your eyesight? Has cynicism clouded your vision? Have delays of the certain things you hope for eclipsed your view of the unseen? Fighting for joy and hope while waiting in faith for God to fulfill His promises of justice and other blessings is difficult. Undoubtedly, the longer the delay, the more hopelessness lurks around the corner seeking to vanquish the mustard seed of faith we so desperately cling to.
Given the ubiquity of racial oppression, anti-blackness, and injustices committed against our people in the Diaspora, the future glory promised in the book of Revelation seems like it will never be ours. Jazmine Headley knows this all too well, as she experienced the trauma of having her one-year old son ripped from her arms by the police. Her crime: Jazmine sat on the floor of the food stamp office as she waited to be seen by an office clerk because all the seats were taken. Jazmine was taken into custody at Rikers Island. Sistas, when we are inundated with news of state-sanctioned violence against our people, there is a real and present temptation to lose heart and faith in Christ by turning to idols and other gods, thereby forsaking the faith.
Read: Jeremiah 2:12-13
In this portion of Scripture, the Spirit of Christ, through the prophet Jeremiah, is calling the heavens as a witness against Israel for their apostasy. Living water is a metaphor for eternal life and spiritual sustenance that God alone can provide, while the broken cisterns represent the idols people chase after. Though the word “thirsty” is not explicitly mentioned in the passage, it is alluded to implicitly; the word connotes a craving, and or a strong desire. We see a people—not unlike ourselves—enslaved by their lustful craving for other gods and their desire to be god, as evidenced by their actions. Their unholy thirst led them to make broken cisterns in a futile effort to satisfy their thirst apart from the true and Living God.
When we recall the circumstances of Christ’s Advent, God’s miraculous work in the lives of Elizabeth and Mary ought to hearten us as we await His soon return. Life is hard and the road to glory is paved with suffering, but the grace of God will always outrun the suffering we experience in the present. Sistas, fight with everything that is within you to keep standing firm in the faith. Jesus is our great High Priest and He empathizes with our sufferings (Heb. 4:15). Keep your eyes on Him as you walk the path He set before you. Jesus comin’.
Prayer
Father, we need your grace to keep us on the narrow path that leads to life. The suffering and temptations we face in this life are many and great. You know our frame and you remember that we are dust. We have a hard time seeing beyond what is in front of us. Give us the eyes of faith that see clearly the certain things that are unseen. Be glorified in our lives as we await Christ’s return. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Songs: