Life in the Light

Tears welled up in my eyes as compassion filled my heart.  The disappointment and pain in the conversation was sharp, piercing even. “God chose not to intervene,” he said; and he was right. The situation was not the desired outcome.  I encouraged him to have faith in God even as my own mind protested. “But, why trust Him?” I thought. “If He won’t even do this thing, why trust Him at all?”  Momentarily, that flicker of doubt was extinguished as I remembered that to abandon the Lord is to plunge into the dark.  

Without God, I am just a spark drifting through a short window in time, living with no greater purpose or meaning in life other than that which I create by my own understanding.  Can you see the terrible possibilities that grow out of such thinking? If there is no fairness derived from Absolutes laid down by our Creator, if there is no accountability to anyone other than Self, if life’s only purpose is to create a place for myself to enjoy a few pleasures before I breathe my last;  I will become a self-centered person intent only on finding my own fleeting happiness.  A world shaped by people intent only on becoming their True Self will be a cruel world where the powerful exploit the weak, where those who find some privilege have no concern for those who lack access to wealth or justice.

I believe that God is the Creator and that in Him we find our worth.  He shows us the way to know hope, meaning, and ultimately – justice.  Admittedly, this demands faith, for both His ways and purposes are sometimes hidden in mystery.  But, if there are ample reasons to trust Him even then.  Faith is inspired by the amazing persistence of life, by the awesome beauty of the earth, and yes;  by the profound experience of Love.  Greatest of all is the revelation of the Savior, Jesus Christ.  As we enter the season of Advent, we are reminded that He broke into our darkness as the Light!  John tells us that "The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world. … So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father." (John 1: 9 -10, 14, NLT)  Isaiah foretold the coming of the One saying that He would be "called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." (Isaiah 9:6-7, NIV)  In Him we are loved and taught to love.  Because of His birth, death, and resurrection we know that our lives are meant for more than a few short years of trying to feed ourselves and give birth to another generation.

Are you living in the Light?

Are you choosing to trust Him with enduring faith?

Are you dying to Self that you might come to life in Christ?

As we enter this season of Light, pray for renewed faith in the One whose coming, past and future, is the focus of Advent.  Here’s the word from the Word.

"But we are not like those who turn their backs on God and seal their fate. We have faith that assures our salvation. What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen." (Hebrews 10:39-11:3, NLT)

"So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." (Hebrews 11:6, NLT)

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Mourning Into Dancing

You have turned my mourning

Into dancing, Lord;

Now my feet are filled

With Your praise.

You have clothed my spirit

With a robe of joy,

You have cast my sorrow away.

For Your anger lasts

But a moment Lord;

And my tears endure

For the night.

But Your favor

Lasts for a lifetime, Lord;

My joy returns

With the morning light.

John G. Elliott

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