Emmanuel

Isaiah 9:6-7New American Standard Bible (NASB)

6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

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700 years had passed since the prophecy had been given.  700 long years.  People had lost hope. People had given up.  In the Gospel of Luke, we are told that and angel of the Lord came to Zacharias and Elizabeth to tell them that Elizabeth would give birth to a son they were to name John who would be a forerunner before the Christ.  Specifically, "he would turn the hearts of the Fathers back to their Children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous; so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."  

John didn't have a job that would make him popular.  He would call people to repent.  He would point out their sins and tell them to turn away from them. People don't like to be judged or have their sins pointed out to them.  But he did exactly that.  Jesus was born and began His earthly ministry.  He changed the world.  His very name, Emmanuel, means "God with us" and indeed He is.  God came down and lived with us, He died, and ascended into Heaven.  Before He left us, He reaffirmed His very namesake.  He said, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  

Almost 2,000 years have passed since He left, promising to return.  Some have lost hope.  Some have given up.  2 Peter 3 tells us that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking and following their evil desires.  They'll say, "What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again?  Since our ancestors, things remain the same." He first came as a baby, a humble, suffering servant.  When He returns, He'll return in great glory and power.

Oh He is true to His word.  He'll return.  The question is: Will He find faith on the earth when He returns?  I pray that He'll find me faithful.