Living with Holy Imagination: Preparing for Christ's Return
Advent, Week Two
In a world filled with injustice, violence, and division, we need more than childhood daydreaming or escapist fantasies. We need what Scripture calls a "holy imagination" - a vision grounded in the coming reality of Jesus' return that transforms how we live today.
What Is Holy Imagination?
Unlike make-believe adventures that pull us away from reality, holy imagination grounds us in God's promises and changes how we approach our daily lives. This isn't about escaping our circumstances but about becoming active partners with God in His redemptive plan for all creation.
Holy imagination is rooted in the future reality of Christ's second coming. It's not wishful thinking - it's confident hope based on God's unchanging promises.
The Promise of Restoration in Isaiah 11
Hope from the Stump of Jesse
Isaiah 11:1-10 paints a vivid picture of what's coming when Christ returns. The passage begins with "a shoot will come from the stump of Jesse" - representing hope emerging from what appears dead and destroyed.
The stump of Jesse symbolizes decay and hopelessness, but the roots show that God has sustained His people through their darkest moments. The branch growing from this stump represents the Messiah's coming again to complete God's restorative work.
A Kingdom of Justice and Righteousness
When Jesus returns, He will establish a kingdom characterized by perfect justice. He will advocate for the poor, vulnerable, and overlooked. Every wrong will be made right, every wound accounted for, and corruption will be no more.
This isn't just about fixing problems - it's about complete transformation. Righteousness and faithfulness will define how Jesus leads, and these qualities should characterize our lives as we wait for His return.
What Will the Coming Peace Look Like?
Shalom: More Than Absence of Conflict
The peace Jesus will bring is called "shalom" - a wholeness that goes far beyond simply ending wars or arguments. This is complete restoration where natural enemies live in harmony.
Isaiah describes wolves living with lambs, leopards lying down with goats, and children playing safely near dangerous animals. This isn't just taming creation - it's renewing the very nature of creation itself, returning it to its original design before sin entered the world.
Perfect Knowledge of God
When Christ returns, "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." We will see Him face to face and experience the unceasing, inescapable presence of God. The glory of God will fill everything.
How Should We Live While We Wait?
Acknowledging Our Need for Redemption
We must honestly examine ourselves and acknowledge where we've been complicit in the world's brokenness. We all need forgiveness for the times we've fallen short and added to the chaos around us.
But the story isn't over. God's mercies are new every morning, and His love and forgiveness never run out. We can still embody Christ's righteousness and faithfulness in our daily lives.
Practical Ways to Live with Holy Imagination
Invite God into Every Aspect of Life
- Pray continually throughout each day
- Start or end your day with quiet time with the Lord
- Depend on Jesus to sustain you through each 24-hour period
Show Extra Grace and Patience
- Give your family extra measures of grace during stressful mornings
- Take time to speak with kindness to clients or coworkers instead of rushing
- Be a pillar of hope in your relationships
Carry Hope into Hopeless Spaces
- Sit with others in their sorrow without needing all the right answers
- Simply be present and love people like Jesus would
- Look people in the eyes and let them know they're seen and valued
Practice Justice for the Vulnerable
- Be intentional about connecting with those who are different from you
- Take time to hear the stories of those in need
- Represent Christ faithfully in a world full of misrepresentations
Bringing Heaven to Earth Today
Living as People of Peace
We can choose peace in small moments - not losing our cool in traffic, responding with grace instead of anger, and giving others the benefit of the doubt. These seemingly small choices reflect our confidence in God's ultimate plan.
Finding Your Third Place
Look for places in your community where you can regularly connect with people different from yourself. This isn't about preaching first - it's about loving people and looking for opportunities to bring pieces of heaven to earth.
The Certainty of Our Hope
Our hope isn't wishful thinking - it's certain because God keeps His promises. Jesus has already begun breaking cycles of fear, hostility, and division in our lives. The invitation is extended to all nations to rally to Him and join in His redemptive work.
When Christ returns:
- All creation will be restored without decay or disaster
- Every tear will be wiped away
- Grief, trauma, sickness, and fear will be no more
- Death will be swallowed up in victory
- Perfect unity and peace will reign
- Every tribe and nation will worship as one family
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to live with holy imagination by actively looking for opportunities to bring pieces of heaven to earth. Choose one specific way you can carry hope into a hopeless space, practice justice for someone vulnerable, or live as a person of peace regardless of your circumstances.
Consider these questions as you apply this message to your life:
- Where in my daily routine can I invite God more intentionally?
- How can I show extra grace and patience to those closest to me this week?
- What "third place" in my community could I frequent to love people different from myself?
- How does remembering Christ's promised return change how I respond to current frustrations or fears?
- In what specific situation this week can I choose to respond with peace instead of anger or anxiety?
Remember, we're not just waiting passively for Christ's return - we're actively partnering with Him to prepare the way and give others a glimpse of the coming kingdom through our lives today.
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Steven E Fairbanks
Steven E Fairbanks
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