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A popular skit at church camps involves about a dozen folks lined up side-by-side, looking anxious and frustrated facing the audience. Each person rests a left elbow on the right shoulder of their neighbor. Then, from left to right, each member asks, "Is it time yet?" When the question arrives at the end of the line, the last person looks at his/her wristwatch and responds, "No." This reply is passed, one-by-one each with bored sighs, back to the first questioner. After a few moments, the same question is passed down the line (left elbows remaining on the right shoulders). The last person checks his/her watch and says, "Yes!" When the response again reaches the head of the line, the group lets out a loud and collective sigh. They then change position, now with right elbows leaning on the left shoulders of each neighbor.

There is no real change here at all. The group is still in the same old place with the same old anxious, frustrated expectations.

Indeed, many of us may be facing the coming days before Christmas with this very same perspective: anxious, frustrated, expecting little other than the same old hassles and problems; hoping for nothing more than perhaps a moment of relief from the stress of the Advent season.

Is it Advent already? That means that we have only four weeks to plan the "perfect" Christmas program; prepare the "perfect" family celebration; begin endless shopping excursions to purchase the "perfect" gifts; decorate the "perfect" tree; and our list of "to-do's" is endless, spinning out of control. We desperately seek happiness while simultaneously we anticipate the same old frustration. Our lives seem as cluttered and crowded as the traffic jams around shopping malls. We have learned that expecting perfection usually results in experiencing rejection.

Is it time yet? Is it time to break this cycle of wishing and wanting perfection? Let's look at our first scripture lesson.

Our text in Isaiah emerges from a time of high anxiety, impatience, discouragement, and despair for God's people. Powerful Assyria was gobbling up smaller nations and heading toward an inevitable clash with Israel. Political infighting and corruption was widespread. Many religious leaders had forsaken the teaching of the Lord and were promoting alliances with other nations against Assyria.

In the first chapter of Isaiah, God declares, "I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master's crib; but Israel does not know; my people do not understand" (Isaiah 1:2-3).

God's people simply did not see the reality of God's continuing presence and guidance. Is it time yet? For them it was only time for the "same old, same old thing"... no real change, no real hope, just a collective group sigh as they anticipated only more of the same misery. Isaiah describes this attitude in chapter 1, verse 5: "The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint." In other words, the mind only perceives more desolation. The will to perceive God's presence and promise for the future is exhausted.

As hall of fame catcher, Yogi Barra, once remarked, "The future ain't what it used to be."

Perhaps many of us feel the same way as we consider our own life experiences on this first Sunday of Advent. The same turmoil exists in the Middle East as it did in Isaiah's time. We see political and moral corruption all around us. We witness broken families, economic hardship, and hypocritical religious practices ... and we watch helplessly, hoping only for a small bit of comfort and another shoulder to lean on while any joy always seems to pass us by.

Is it time yet? Is it time for a real word of promise, a real word of hope from the Lord?

The answer -- the Advent answer -- is a resounding "Yes!" Look again at our text. Here in verse 1, Isaiah saw the word of promise. God expands Isaiah's perception to see beyond the corruption and desolation a new reality -- God's reality. God is turning their understanding upside down and inside out. Or, as the great jazz singer, Al Jolson, often remarked, "You ain't heard nothin' yet, folks!"

Isaiah then proceeds to unfold God's promised future for us and for all God's people. In Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament, God's word is not simply a concept or collection of letters. God's word is a thing, a force, a power that can be seen and experienced.

And this word, in the "days to come" is a sure and certain Advent promise from God, not just to Israel, not just to you and me, but to all God's people.

First, it is a promise of peace to all nations: "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; neither shall they learn war anymore" (Isaiah 2:4). How can this be? In Isaiah's time, tiny Israel was on the brink of annihilation. Throughout the following centuries, wars and rumors of war were a very real part of daily existence. Sadly, it is true today. And yet, "in the days to come," in God's time, with God's promise, peace will be a reality. Is it time yet?

Yes, indeed! And yet, in spite of the tumult of wars, God's Advent promise is being fulfilled in our midst. Christ, the Prince of Peace has come, is coming, and will come again! Isaiah proclaims, in the days to come, the Word of the Lord will come from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3). Friends, that Word, that force, that power was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). That Word, God's own Word of peace, suffered and died on a cross for you, for us, for all nations, in Jerusalem. God's Word rose again in Jerusalem. Through the Holy Spirit, God's Word reaches all nations. This is perfection ... God's perfect plan of salvation for us and for all people.

Is it time yet? We still yearn for a time and space that is free from the stress and anxiety of daily living. During this season of the year, family tensions, economic stress, and every day worries seem to grow even stronger occupying our existence. And yet, it is time ... God's time. Isaiah's "days to come" are here. In spite of our stress and worry, Christ has come! Christ is coming! Christ will come again!

So then, what does that mean for us? Advent is a time of remembering that Christ has come. Advent is also a time of preparation for the "days to come," the celebration of Christ's birth and the promise that Christ will come again. Isaiah invites the people of God to "come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!" (Isaiah 5). That invitation is also given to us, today.

Advent is a time to remember how God has been present and active in our experience; times when we were certain of Christ's presence and guidance.

At the end of each day, the parents of Thomas (age seven) and Stephen (age five) always ask them what they remember most about their daily activities. After a day of riding their body boards on high ocean waves, their mother asked, "Boys, what good time did God give you today? What do you remember most?" Stephen declared, "I was flying for joy over those waves!" Thomas proclaimed, "I learned to ride over the waves on my knees!"

They got it! In family gatherings, choir rehearsals, Sunday school classes and committee meetings this Advent, share with each other those times, even scary times, in your life when you "just knew" that the presence and guidance of Christ both placed you on your knees and lifted you up to fly for joy beyond the worries of the day. Christ has come! Christ is coming! Christ will come again! Walk in the light of the Lord!

Is it time yet? The stores and commercials and calendars remind us hourly of what yet needs to be "done" for the holidays. There's never enough time to complete every task and still find a little rest in the too few days to come.

It is time ... God's time ... and the time is here. The Word can be seen on the cross, in the waters of baptism, and in the bread and wine of holy communion. God has given us God's own shoulder to lean on. God has already given us loving arms to keep us flying for joy on our knees through and beyond whatever turmoil we are facing.

The days to come have begun! God's perfect plan of salvation is happening now! It is time to celebrate! Amen.