In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Apparently, God spent so much time in the Garden paradise that Adam recognized the sound of God as he walked in the Garden (Genesis 3:8). Sin broke that privilege of that precious closeness (Gen. 3:22-24). God did not abandon us to condemnation. God chose to save us by restoring the broken relationship.

God looked forward to the coming restoration as he promised Abram to bless all nations through his descendant (Genesis 12:3). Through Isaiah, God promised the birth of the Son whose name would be “Immanuel” which means “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). Ultimately, that promise was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:22-23). Jesus was fully divine, (perfectly equal with the Father and Spirit–John 1:1). Jesus added humanity to his divine person so that he could dwell among us, be righteous for us, and be sacrificed for us (John 1:14; Hebrews 10:4-10). As Jesus walked on the earth, he was God with us. He was Immanuel.

Just as God sent Jesus to the world, Jesus has sent us into the world to spread the good news that we can be together with God again. Therefore, we are “waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter. 3:12-13).

Then Jesus’ promise will be fulfilled. His mission will be completed so that where he is, there we may be also (John 14:3). Then Jesus will be Immanuel in the fullest possible way. We will be with him and he will be with us. Everything that sin has lost, Jesus will have regained and glorified. How great it will be to be at home with the Lord. “Come, Lord Jesus.”