*Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a 5-part blog series on the new Advent worship song, “Once and Again,” written and produced by CRBC Music Minister, Eric Wall. You may follow all the related posts on councilroadwomen.org.
For weeks, I have found myself humming or singing the new Advent song, “Once and Again.” Whether I am working at my computer, buying presents, running errands, wrapping gifts, hosting, or doing any of the myriad of things women do during the holidays, I find myself singing these lyrics. The biblical truths they proclaim has made them the melody line to my Christmas, reminding me over and again of the redemptive gifts of Advent: Jesus has come and He is coming again!
Verse 1 recalls God’s multi-generational promise that was fulfilled in Jesus’ birth, while verse 2 details His death and resurrection. As life-altering as these realities are, verse 3 shines a spotlight on the magnificence that is ahead for us: Jesus is coming back!
But oh, the day is nearing
When He is coming back
As He’s restoring Eden He’ll dry the tears we had
The light of all His glory
Forever fills the sky
We will not remember pain or fear or night
However this Christmas season finds you, may the medicine of these words bring deep healing to your soul. They are not wishful thinking, they are Truth that you can hold onto. Jesus is coming back (Revelation 22:20). He is restoring Eden (See Genesis 1-2 and Revelation 22). He will dry your tears (Revelation 21:4). He will bring so much light with Him that it will forever fill the sky and erase all your dark memories (Revelation 21:23).
To highlight the celebratoryness of this most magnificent message, the instruments stop suddenly, as the lyrics pick up pace and volume to shout with wonder,
Can you hear the wedding bells?
Can you feel the trumpets swell?
The myriad of angels yell
“Yahweh making all things well”
At this point in the song, my heart always feels as if it is about to burst as scriptural promises from Revelation are passionately proclaimed (Examples include passages in Revelation 8-11, 19 and 21). I want to yell with the angels that Jesus is not finished! If we have accepted Him as Who the Bible declares Him to be (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; Mark 9:7; John 3:16; 14:1-3, 6; Romans 6:23; 5:8; 10:9,10; 2 Peter 1:17), we can know with absolute certainty that we are His and that He is coming again to get us (1 John 5). Yes, our earthly bodies are decaying and the world we can see looks to be a colossal mess, but we must look to the future He has promised. The God who carefully preserved the line of David and defied all odds to be true to His promises and come to earth through a virgin birth as a human baby so that He could be our worthy sacrifice and secure a place for us with Him in eternity…that very God is still God. He is not finished. He can make and is making all things well. Don’t you want to yell with the angels??? That is Truth worth celebrating!
Meet the Author!
Bible teacher, author, inspirational speaker, and disciple-maker, Vickey Banks is passionate about helping women connect the dots between God’s Word and their everyday lives. She loves serving as Women’s Ministry Director at Council Road and as a Lifeway Women’s Ministry Trainer, pursuing a Master of Biblical Studies at Moody Theological Seminary, celebrating her people, and getting lost in a good story.