A Great Light
Scripture Reading — Isaiah 9:2-5
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2
Several years ago I found myself alone in the deepening darkness of a mountain rain forest. My father-in-law and I were camping in the Cascade Mountains, and I had gone off fishing by myself. As the sun set, I headed back to our camp. But darkness comes quickly in the mountains, and before I reached camp all of the daylight had disappeared. I was completely lost. The roar of the nearby river made it useless to shout for help, and fear set in as I stumbled along in the darkness without any sense of direction.
Then in the distance I saw a light; my father-in-law had come down the trail looking for me with his flashlight. My fear dissipated, because at that moment I knew everything would be all right.
In Isaiah we read, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." We know today that Jesus is the light Isaiah was talking about.
So many people are lost today--lost in sin, lost in the hopelessness and darkness of a life without Christ. Many search for truth but find only lies; many seek hope but find only despair. They need to discover the light that is Jesus Christ, and they need someone to point them to it. This season, let's look for people who need the light of Christ to shine in their lives.
Jesus, light of the world, thank you for the hope you give us in this place of darkness. Help us to share your light and love with those who are lost. In your name, Amen.
About the author — Joel Sheeres
Rev. Joel Sheeres is the pastor at First Christian Reformed Church in Crown Point, Indiana. He and his wife, Christine, have three children. Pastor Sheeres has previously served at Faith Christian Reformed Church in Elmhurst, Illinois.
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