What To Expect When You Are Expecting:  Things Will Change”

On this second Sunday of Advent we will continue our series of “What to Expect When You Are Expecting.”  Remember, as Christians, we ARE expecting—we are expecting the coming of Jesus.  Last Sunday we learned that Expectation results in Motivation not Definition.  In other words—we may not know the definite day and hour Jesus will come—but we have His promise that He will come and so we remain motivated to be prepared for His arrival.

But also, we must recognize and embrace the reality that “Things Will Change” with His arrival.

Open your Bibles to Isaiah 11:1-10.

            “Things will change.” 

            I remembering hearing that statement from many different people when Leslie and I were expecting our first child.  Often times they would go further by making suggestions of how this statement might be fulfilled—such as:  “Your sleeping schedule will change.  Your priorities will change.  How you spend your money will change.  Your focus will change.  Your thoughts will change.”  In fact, many went so far as to say that our relationship with one another would change.

Of course, as is often the case, we listened to all of their comments with a less than whole intent.  In other words, we assumed that we would be different.  That even though the arrival of a little child would certainly “change” things, we would be different—the changes would not be as drastic for us as they may have been for others. 

WOW—were we mistaken!

Those little children that we so excitingly expected completely rocked our world—from the very beginning.  They immediately became the center of our attention.  All we did or didn’t do revolved around them. 

The change was inevitable.  Before children it didn't matter where you kept things in the house—you didn’t have to put cleaning liquids out of reach or clear off the top of the coffee table of anything breakable.  Before children you didn’t have to carry Cheerios around with you every where you went.  Before children you didn’t have to hide the remote control.  Before children your house wasn’t “childproof”; your couch wasn’t a trampoline; cheese-sticks and fruit snacks were not two of the four major food groups; the song stuck in your head was something other than the Barney “Clean-up” song.  No question—“things will change”—was an accurate statement—the arrival of children bring radical changes. 

During this Advent Season we are looking into what we should expect while we are expecting the arrival of a Child.  And one only needs to look at Isaiah 11 to gain a glimpse into the reality that things will change.  When Jesus is on the scene—schedules will change, priorities will change, spending will change, focus will change, thoughts will change—in fact, I would go so far as to say, our relationships will change. 

I think Isaiah 11 contains some of the sweetest words of hope—words the people of Judah—the remnant of Israel—needed to hear.  They had been living in extremely hostile times—they had been crushed and defeated by the Assyrian forces and unquestionably longed for hope. 

And you know—it is hard not to observe the parallels between then and now.  There are many times when we feel defeated and crushed.  And, like the people then—we need to hear words of hope.  We need to know that we can truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel—the shoot that will come up from the stump of Jesse.  They heard and we need to hear again the Good News that the arrival of a child would bring radical changes!!

We need to hear that this child will rule in a radically different way.  He will rule with "wisdom," "understanding," "counsel," "knowledge" and a "fear of the Lord" (vv.2-3).  He will not be influenced by wealth or power but by compassion for all—including the poor.  He will be sustained by the power of the Spirit and He will rule with justice.  Righteousness will be the foundation for everything this child brings.  Compassion and faithfulness will be His strongest character traits.  There will be power in His words.  There will be hope for the hopeless.  This child will change everything—even those things and relationships that once appeared unchangeable.  The wolf will live with the lamb; the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and the lion and the yearling together—and if that weren’t enough—a little child will lead them.

Things will change!

Here is the question I have—will we hear this prophetic voice with holy intent?  In other words, will we be so motivated and excited and expectant of the coming of Jesus that we will allow Him to radically change all aspects of our lives?  Will we assume that things will be different because Jesus is present in our lives?

Where we once judged people by the clothes they wore—will the arrival of Jesus into our lives now allow us to see people for who they are?

Where we were once influenced by the words of others—will we now be influenced by the word of the Lord?

Where we once influenced others by the negative words we said about a person—will we now influence others with the encouraging words and example of Jesus?

Where we once relied on the power that came with money and status—will we now be moved by the power of His Spirit?

Where we once thought that children took too much of our time—will we now begin to give them the time they need?

Where we once thought there wasn’t enough time in the day—will we now begin to make the most of our time in the day?

Where we once thought Christmas was about the presents under the tree—will we now recognize it is about the Gift of a Child?

I love the story of two women who were standing on the corner of a busy downtown street at the height of the Christmas season.  The cars were bumper to bumper, so the women could barely cross the street.  They stood there on the sidewalk with presents piled high over their heads, but the sidewalks were as crowded as the street with people pushing and rushing to get their shopping done. 

"I hate Christmas," one woman said to the other. "I hate all the crowds and the noise, the rat race of commercialism, the confusion, the short tempers people have, and the expensive things you're expected to buy.  To me, Christmas is frustrating."

"Well, I'm sorry you feel that way," the other woman said, "because I love Christmas.  To think that a little Child born 2,000 years ago halfway around the world could create such an uproar in the middle of this modern city - it's just amazing!"

What about you?  Will your life be any different because of the arrival of Jesus into your heart and life?  Will your priorities change—will you allow Him to be first and you to be second? Will your spending habits change—will you spend more on Jesus and less on you?  Will your thoughts change—will you think more of Him and less of yourself?  Will your time change—will you spend more time with your Lord and less time making excuses why you just don’t have time?  Will you show others a picture of Jesus with the same enthusiasm you show others pictures of your children?  Will you allow the Christ child to radically change your life?

Let me close with this—the other night I made my annual journey to the attic to retrieve our Christmas decorations and lights.  While I was up there I noticed something that really brought to the heart what I am trying to say this morning.  I saw the two signs that we had been given to place in our yard when both Layne and Luke were born—one pink and one blue.  I picked them up and read them—their names; date of birth; and weight and length.  A simple sign, placed in the front yard of our home—seemingly providing all the information the rest of the world needed to know about our most precious gifts!  Some how—with a passing glance at that banner of joy—all those that saw it would know that THINGS HAD CHANGED!

And then I thought about Isaiah 11:10 that says:  “In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.”

That’s the sign I want the world to see—how about you?  That’s the banner that will truly let the world know that THINGS HAVE CHANGED!

What are you expecting?
AMEN.