Isaiah
9:1-7
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great
light; those who lived in a land of deep
darkness—on them light has
shined.”
(Isaiah
9:2)
A few years back, a February blizzard
left us buried under nearly two feet of snow and without power for nearly 48
hours. The first night was an adventure, pitching in to light candles, find
flashlights, and pile on the blankets.
By the second night, it was a different story. Clayton deserted us for friends who had
power, and 24 hours of freezing temperatures with no heat made the house a
chilly place indeed.
Cindy and I went out to dinner and then to a local bookstore where we sat
and read for an hour or so before heading home.
Houses on both sides of Braddock
Road were lit as we neared home, but hopes were dashed when we turned onto our
dark street, feeling as if we were being sucked into a black hole. There was a deep, cold darkness that lasted
until power was restored at five o’clock the next morning.
Isaiah speaks to a more devastating
darkness that threatens to drain joy and hope from life. Human sin brought on this darkness that could
only be overcome by the great gift of light which would eventually come in the
Christ of Bethlehem, the one Isaiah called, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace.” Gospel
writer John would follow this theme of illumination in describing hope in the
living Christ as he wrote, “The light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”
The ancient words of both writers still remind us today of the power
of light to dispel darkness
Prayer: Light of the world, come into
the shadowy corners of our sin and despair.
Illuminate these dark places with your glorious light.
Amen.
Jim
Abernathy
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