Healing Rays of Righteousness

A new year begins.  A new set of 365 days to plan, pursue and perfect our hopes and dreams of  a better life.  A new opportunity to reach new spiritual maturity in becoming the Jesus-like person we have committed ourselves to be. 

We hope it will be a good year of health and happiness, but we also fear that it may not be as good as we would hope it to be.  Many of us are anxious, wondering what difficulties or disappointments may lie ahead.  So, what are you thinking?  What do you see as you step into this new year of 2019?

Sadly, I see a world of darkness, of pain and fear.  I see people victimized by hate, greed, and violence.  I see nations and churches, divided by politics, racial prejudices, and national pride.  I see major tragedies happening almost every week, both near at home and far away.  I see a world of misery with suffering people and hopeless darkness covering the earth.

The prophet, Isaiah, was writing to God’s people in a time of deep darkness and despair.  The return to their homeland after exile in Babylon was very difficult.  Much of their property had been destroyed and the economy was very poor.  And many of their friends had chosen to remain in Babylon, causing those who did return to feel lonely, weary, and forgotten.

But God has a good news message for them.  Through their prophet/pastor, Isaiah, God says to them, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” This is similar to the voice of a parent calling to their sleeping children; “Wake up! Rise and shine! It’s a new day!”

Isaiah’s analogy of light in this chapter fills in the details of his earlier prophecy (9:2) “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.”  This analogy of light represents the majestic, redeeming glory of God’s presence, awakening hope and a future. 

This glorious light links us forward to what the apostle John’s says about Jesus Christ – “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5). 

And a few chapters later, Jesus declares himself to be light – “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).

On the day of Epiphany, we remember the coming of the light of Christ into the world, driving away the darkness of sin, loneliness, and despair.  Epiphany is all about the glory of God being revealed to the world in the birth of Jesus Christ; a birth confirmed and affirmed to be the Messiah by Magi from the east.  (Matthew 2:1-12).

The glory of God’s new promised world shines brighter and brighter as the glory of the Lord sweeps away the darkness of sin in every person and nation.  As the apostle Paul says in his second letter to the Corinthians (3:18) – “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”  

When the full glory of the Lord is upon us, there is no way to remain in the shadows of doubt and despair.  God has come to us.  Our salvation is here!  So, arise and shine!  “Wake up, your light has come!  Arise, shine …the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  …and his glory appears over you.”  

Let us encourage one another to enter this new year of 2019 with confident faith, believing Christ’s new world of redeeming light, hope, love, peace, joy and life has dawned upon us and is on the way to complete fulfillment as the glorious eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ. 

“O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.”

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – January 2, 2019