"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven."
(Mark 13:24-27 NKJV)
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night... You, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. (1 Thessalonians 5:2,4-5 NKJV)
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt." So ... there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt ... But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
(Exodus 10:21-23 NKJV)
Thoughts on light, darkness, and the Lord's return.
Christmas reminds us that the beauty of light is most evident amid darkness.
We don't usually think of light being necessary to life. Yet without light, photosynthesis ceases, botanical life collapses, and the rest of physical life will fall. Spiritual life is likewise dependent on Light. The Light of truth in Scripture must permeate our lives to sustain spiritual life.
The date of the Lord's return remains shrouded in darkness. God gives His children all the illumination we need, and wisely chose to withhold a detail that might make us complacent.
More Christians have been martyred in the last century than in the previous two millenia. As Christ's return draws near, we have no way of knowing we will never be among them. The day of a test isn't the time to wish we'd prepared for it.
No matter how much darkness surrounds the children of God, we need not fear it, for it cannot dispel the Light within us.
Oh great Light of the world, in You is no darkness at all. You alone possess the Light which gives eternal life. When You are close, we need not stumble. Lord, when darkness creeps into the corners of our lives, please help us seek You out, and fill us with the peace of Your light.
Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy
Fill us Lord with your beautiful light.
ReplyDelete