God Speaking

“When Jesus spoke again to the people he said, “I am the light of the world. Who ever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”

(John 8: 12)

Here in Canada we are going into winter and the days rapidly become shorter and the dark nights longer. As the darkness comes, I feel my own darkness stronger and almost overpowering me. One of my daughters gave me a set of three large battery, operated candles. They look exactly like real candles and when they light up one cannot tell the difference. Last week another daughter set the timer for the batteries to automatically come on as dusk begins to turn to darkness and a day later, I was once again overcome with my own darkness when suddenly the candles turned on and light flooded the room. Then Jesus’ words also flooded the room and I remembered his promise to light up any darkness that threatened us and comfort also flooded my heart as I realised that he was with me.

Our Heavenly Father has offered that light to all his people and when he was leading them out of Egypt to the promised land, he gave them an amazing example of his power over darkness. To thwart the Egyptian army who were close behind them, he led them through the desert with a cloud and at night a pillar of light

“The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night a pillar of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or night.” (Exodus 13: 21)

When John the Baptist, was heralding the coming of the Saviour, the long, awaited Messiah, he described him as the true light that will give light to everyone.

“He came as a witness to testify concerning that light so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to that light. The true light that that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” (John 1: 7 – 9)

These words bring such promise to all of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. We don’t have to struggle alone when all sorts of darkness envelopes us, sometimes, grief feels like a blanket of darkness, and we need those gentle hands to lift it from us and bring back light. Sometimes hard times fall upon us, loss of a job, financial problems, sometimes family discord can darken our days, a cancer diagnosis, sick children, sometimes major decisions bewilder us as to the right one and darkness clouds our minds What a tremendous relief it is to remember that Jesus will shine light on whatever it is that darkens our days.

I love what Micah, the prophet, said what he did when he felt he was surrounded by darkness;

“…Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” (Micah 7: 8)