Friday, December 11, 2009
Isaiah 9:2-5 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. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD (5)
In the evening hymn "Now the Day Is Over" there are several lines that catch the singer's attention. There is one that prays: "Comfort every sufferer watching late in pain..." Then another pleads: "Through the long night watches may Thine angels spread their white wings above me, watching round my bed." These lines make us think about those difficult nights in our lives. Nights of sickness where we struggled (or watched a loved one struggle) until the morning dawned. Nights of waiting for our children to come home safely. Nights we could hardly bear--when the breaking of dawn was a most welcome sight.
Isaiah conveyed the meaning of dawn for us using several pictures. One is of a harvest being gathered in, the difficult work finally completed. Another is of warriors throwing their battle garments into the fire because there is no longer any need of them--the fight is over. The dawn means that the hardships of the darkness are past.
The day is dawning, dear Christians, and it's not just the light of an Eastern sun rising. It is the Light of the World shining upon you. It is the Christmas light that is just beginning to shine. What is it like for you to be in this place?
Does your life consist of trials and fears now that can now begin to flee away by looking toward the early brightness of Christmas? Fear and guilt over sins we have committed--they are melting in the Savior's forgiving glow, aren't they? Daily difficulties that dampen our our joy and optimism--aren't they seeming less alarming as our Champion appears on the horizon?
If your life has been darkness, enjoy now standing on the edge of the light. God brings that light, for "On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Jesus' birth is right around the corner for us, and that means "the strife is o'er, the battle done."
