in the midst of darkness

We enjoyed attending Christmas Eve service last night.  The music came in traditional carols, a resonant solo, instrumental duets and choral anthems.  Our pastor reminded us that we celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas, but that His beginnings trace to eternity and that He has always been with the Father.  As we basked in the light of Christmas-anticipated it struck me that three of the greatest events that forever changed mankind took place during the darkness of night.  The birth of Jesus, the betrayal of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb all took place during the night.  And so we see the beginning of Jesus' ministry among us in the manger, the end of Jesus' ministry among us before His crucifixion and the victory of Jesus for us through His resurrection all occurring during the time when the earth was in the shadows of night.  And so it is in our lives that we, who have walked in a dark way...without wisdom or knowledge or hope beyond our days on earth have had the Lord come to us in the night of our lives.  The Lord is not uncomfortable in the night.  It can be when He does His greatest work.  And beyond the night there is day!

 

Job 12:²² He uncovers deep things out of darkness, And brings the shadow of death to light:.

 

Psalm 18:⁹ He bowed the heavens also, and came down  

                          With darkness under His feet.

 

Psalm 112:⁴ Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;

 

Luke 1: ⁷⁶ " And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
      For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

       ⁷⁹ To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
      To guide our feet into the way of peace."

 

blessings and thanks for Light from darkness,

Rob Smith

(Joyous Christmas with light to you all)