The prophet, Isaiah, was writing to God’s people in a time of deep darkness and despair, most likely gloomier and more desperate than that in our present time. The return trip to their homeland in Israel, after 70 years of exile in Babylon, was exceedingly difficult and disappointing.
But God had good news 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. …Lift up your eyes and look about you.” (Isa. 60:1-2, 4).
The back-to-back imperative verbs, “Arise, Shine” constitute a hope-filled wake-up call announcing the Lord’s new day, which is signified by his glorious light.
Through the prophet Isaiah, God announces a new day has dawned upon them, “your light has come,” and thus renews their hope with the promise of a coming redeemer. This analogy of light represents the majestic, redeeming glory of God’s presence, awakening hope and a future for those living in darkness.
We must remember that this is only prophecy, a promise of what was going to happen in the future. Many of the following generations heard this message but never saw its reality.
This promise of glorious light links us forward to what the apostle John 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. …The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” (John 1:4-5,9).
And it also links us to the story of the “Magi from the east” who were looking for a hopeful sign about the future and then seeing it, followed the brilliant light of a star to Bethlehem.
The star that appeared in the nighttime sky led them to the place where the young child was. In that child, the Magi recognized that God had finally brought light and hope into the world’s darkness. They believed this child was the beginning fulfillment of God’s promise of a whole new world called the Kingdom of heaven, and they bowed and worshipped him as King.
Think about this and make it personal. The Sovereign, Creator God, incarnated in Jesus Christ, clothes himself in human flesh and is born of a woman, comes down to earth as glorious and holy light, and “rises upon you and his glory appears over you. …Lift up your eyes and look about you:”
Unlike the people of Isaiah’s day, we have received more than just a promise of light. As John says, “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father full of grace and truth.” (Jn.1:14). The promise is fulfilled. We live in the new reality of God’s Kingdom of light and glory shining on us here and now. Should we not be more confident and enthusiastic regarding God’s presence and goodness to us?
The glorious evidence of a living, loving God in our midst, is made visible with each sunrise over all the world, as people are mobilized by the Christ-like spirit of love and compassion to care for and to help others in their need.
The remarkable truth is that this glorious light of Christ does more than just make us feel good and confident. It also changes our attitude toward the world and the people around us. We see them, all of them, in a new light as human beings created, just like us, in the image and likeness of God, and who are dearly loved by God.
And yes, the glory of God’s new promised Kingdom shines brighter and brighter as the glory of the Lord overcomes and sweeps away the darkness of sin in every person and nation. The apostle Paul says it this way in his second letter to the Corinthians (3:18) – “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
Indeed, God has come down to us in Jesus. Our salvation is here! So, happy new year, rise and shine! Let the glory of the Lord shine over you, in you, and through you. Do not hide it under a bushel.
Step into this new year of 2021 with confident faith, believing Christ’s new kingdom of redeeming light, hope, love, peace, joy, and life has dawned upon us and is on the way to complete and glorious fulfillment as the glorious eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
- Let us pray,
- O star of wonder, star of night,
- Star with royal beauty bright,
- Westward leading, still proceeding,
- Guide us to thy perfect light. AMEN!
<><><><><><>
“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – December 30, 2020
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
Leave a comment