Let there Be Light
God spoke light into existence, as the Spirit moved over a darkened orb in the genesis of all things. In the fullness of time, God spoke the same words, “Let there be Light”, and Light burst forth from mortal womb into glorious day amid stable stench.
A Light no darkness would ever quench lay swaddled in a lowly manger bed.
Advent. The season of lights within a season of anticipation; waiting for the promised Messiah, Savior, Light of the world. (John 8:12, John 12:46) Longing for the promised fulfillment of Hope.
As it was in the beginning, a darkened and formless earth, so God’s people became after years of captivity and oppression. Both in the outward existence forced upon them and the inward reality of the ravages of their own sin.
In this first week of Advent my heart ponders the significance of light in a darkened world. By definition, “advent” means “coming”, setting the theme of the season to celebrate both the first coming of Christ at His birth, and the second coming of Christ as He returns to set up His literal kingdom on earth.
As we contemplate Hope as the first of four Advent reflections, we consider the darkness of a sinful world, the depravity of our own hearts, and the despair of feeling God’s distance.
God sent His Son into a darkened world, to a people broken by sin and oppression, who endured the silence of heaven for more than 400 years. While many devout Jews still looked for the coming Messiah, many more stopped looking long ago.
Advent devotionals exhort us to repentance while reminding us of the prophesied coming of Jesus, Emmanuel filling us with hope.
We know Jesus came as prophecy foretold and offered redemption not only to the Jews, but to all men. Yet, millennia later we see the same darkness, sin and despair which shrouded the world at His first coming.
As we journey back to Bethlehem this Advent season, may the prayer of our hearts cry, “Let there be Light.”
What the world needs now is not love, but Light. The only Light that defeats the darkness of evil, sin and despair. A radiance which sheds Hope into the vilest of places.
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
But may our hearts be willing also to invite that same illumination into the dark spaces we guard. The secret places which hide addictions, unholy desires and hypocrisy. Let there be Light in the darkness which houses our shame, wounds and unspoken grief.
Let there be Light in the broken and forsaken relationships where hope died long ago.
Perhaps the eyes of our hearts have grown accustomed to the dark, and we no longer seek the light. Or maybe we think the greatest need for illumination is in the world around us, rather than our own inner landscape.
Join me this Advent season and welcome the Light which casts out all darkness and illumines the love of God in our lives like never before.
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