When I first became a Christian there was an urgency in my soul to tell the world about the coming of Christ. When I understood the prophecies, I became excited that I would soon see the One who had mended my soul. This past Sabbath I asked if I was the only one who had experienced this? Throughout the week, I have received many messages and emails with stories that testify of the transformational power of hope.

I was not the only one. Many of us, at one point, opened the Scriptures and felt the moving of the Spirit in our souls, the healing hand of Jesus, and the embrace of God. And with joy, we accepted the Gospel and rejoiced in the coming of our Lord.

But life happens. And the passion slowly fades. Not purposefully, or consciously … it just happens. No one makes a conscious choice to not admire and stand in awe of the beauty and mystery of a starry night. We just quickly run inside because we’ve seen starry skies countless times. We know it’s beautiful, and we do not expect anything new. The same happens to our faith. It’s the slow fade from exciting to mundane which is most dangerous. It is the wise who constantly pray for God to ever fill their souls with awe, wonder, and gratitude.

Ellen White said, “The promise of Christ’s second coming was ever to be kept fresh in the minds of His disciples.” (AA p.33) Paul desired the Thessalonian Christians to encourage each other with the hope of the coming of Jesus. I want to challenge you to take a moment and contemplate the coming of Jesus. It will be like medicine to the soul: to feel hope awaken once again deep within your soul.

Grace and Peace,

—Alex Portillo