The advent, or coming, of Christ is always accompanied by promises.

The prophet Isaiah proclaimed Christ’s arrival with the statement, “…For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…” (Isaiah 9:6).

But in the previous four verses he also describes what the arrival will look like.

In verse 2, he declares that light has come; in verse 3, he tells us that people will rejoice as they do at harvest; in verse 4, he says that yokes will be shattered; and in verse 5, he established that the coming King is victorious.

A summary of these four ideas is that Christ comes with hope, joy, freedom, and victory.

As we conclude a difficult year, let us celebrate this Christmas season, this advent, with these four promises in our heart.

And as we approach a New Year, let’s remember that with every night there is a new dawn.

As Isaiah put it, “…The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned…” (Isaiah 9:2).

Robert