Text“The people who walked in darkness….” Isaiah 9:2a

Like so many of you, I love the music of Christmas. Just this morning, I heard an arrangement of "Hark How The Bells" and "Sing We Now Of Christmas" that was spectacular. But this is one of those years when the message and the music of Christmas seem even more meaningful and therefore more comforting. Our world feels dark. Our world feels dark, because there is a lot of darkness in it. The darkness is not our imagination.

We know people suffering from some serious diseases and are living day to day under the physical strain and the increasing sense of loss. We know people who have passed away and have left gaping holes in the hearts of those left behind. We can hardly imagine what millions of people in Ukraine are enduring. They are facing the same diseases, but in the context of a war. The darkness of the season is exasperated by the literal darkness from not having electricity or warmth.

I wish that everyone in your family and mine was healthy. I wish that you and I were not wondering what tomorrow was going to bring. But, the reality of the darkness and sense of contemplative silence that comes with it, has helped me embrace the light of the gospel and the sweet hope of the songs of Christmas that beautifully reminds me of it.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of
deep darkness on them as light shined.” Isaiah 9:2

If you realize the reality of the darkness, your soul will be ready and even desperate to embrace the light. Therefore, we should not rage against the reality of our circumstances, but let them open our eyes to the rest of the story. And the rest of the story is incredible. The darkness will not last because it will not win. The cross and empty tomb have made that clear. The darkness is with us for a season, but “of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end.” 
Isaiah 9:6

I am not certain what all of that means, except that the return of Christ will inaugurate a reality that will only get better in the sense that it will only get bigger. We have seen the light. We may still feel the darkness, but it won’t be long now. We’re not far from home.

Grace, peace and joy,
Bob
Sunday’s Text: John 1:6 -9
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