CHRIST’S LIGHT EXPOSES THE DARKNESS

Here’s a question: Does the light of God draw you near or send you into hiding? What a question, you may say! How can anyone not be drawn to the light of God?

The prophet Isaiah was drawn to the light. In his excitement he wanted God’s people in Jerusalem (and in all of Judah) to see what he saw. In the midst of darkness and fear he saw ahead of him a guiding light. He wanted the people of God to see what he was seeing. He called on them all to join him in walking “in the light of the Lord.”

But not all of Isaiah’s neighbors shared his passion. Isaiah’s fellow citizens had been attracted to the paganism of the ancient world. “They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines … Their land is full of idols …”

In the following verses Isaiah describes the result of the people’s spiritual stubbornness. He cynically advises them to run and hide in the rocks, away from the awesome scene of the splendor of the majesty of the Lord.

What happens when Christ, the “light of the world” (John 8:12), draws near to you? By Christ’s Spirit we receive the humility to allow that light to illumine every dark corner of our lives. But there is more. By that same Spirit we can be drawn into a faith relationship with Jesus that fills us with his holiness.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for the impact of Christ’s presence on many millions of people in the world today. Help me to reflect more of his light in my own life. Amen.

Victor Atallah