YOUR EVERLASTING LIGHT

 JANUARY 10, 2023

ISAIAH 60:1-2

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For darkness shall cover the earth
and thick darkness the peoples,
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.



Psalms 18:28

You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

As mentioned previously in our devotions Epiphany refers to a revelation and realization that Christ is the Son of God. The Messiah promised through the prophetic words of the Old Testament. God’s anointed One will show up and “the People walking in Darkness will see a great light.” (Isaiah 9) The arrival of this one will result in the hopeful song and message that says “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you." Jesus is that light. The light that we spoke of yesterday to which we are drawn toward.
Isaiah 60 concludes with these words,

"The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night, but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. 20 Your sun shall no more go down or your moon withdraw itself, for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your days of mourning shall be ended.
21 Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever. They are the shoot that I planted, the work of my hands, so that I might be glorified. 22 The least of them shall become a clan and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the Lord; in its time I will accomplish it quickly."

The story is out! Jesus Christ, Light of the World has been born to dispel the darkness that covers its people. God’s glory appears in human form. Life on earth will never be the same again!

Remember the lines in the opening of John’s gospel, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it. . . . 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” This life that was light is here among us and continues to give us the power to become children of God.

Light is an extremely significant theme in Scripture. We first read of it in Genesis 1:3 as the word of God breaks into the darkness of a world not yet created: “Let there be light.” Such is the power of the divine command that we are not surprised to read next, “and there was light.” We last read of the light in Revelation 22:5, “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord gives them light; and they shall reign forever and ever.”

What an amazing promise! Light now, but not fully yet. The promise is that light grows to the point where there will be no more darkness. No Candle needed, for our Lord Jesus Christ will be our everlasting light.


LET US PRAY

God, We are drawn to your feet in worship
Your creation facing its creator
Hearts laid bare by your light
Humbly asking for your mercy.

We come to you as a people in need
of assurance and forgiveness.
We come to you as a people in need
of healing and wholeness.
We come dependent upon your love.


Draw us close.
Enfold us in your arms.
Fill us with your Spirit
that we might reflect your light
within this dark world,
speak your Word with boldness
and draw others to your feet.
We ask this through your dear Son Jesus Christ.
Amen


2 Peter 3:18

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.