“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.” (Isa. 60:1-2).
The prophet/pastor, 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.
The back-to-back imperative verbs, “Arise, Shine” constitute a hope-filled “wake-up” call announcing the Lord’s new day, signified by his glorious light. This glorious light is evidenced in God’s majestic, redeeming presence and provision. This glorious light awakens and encourages their prophetic hope for a Messiah/Redeemer whose glorious light will overcome the deadly darkness of Godlessness and evil.
This promised 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. …The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:4-5,9,14).
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 with his mother Mary.
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 down and worshipped him.” {Matthew 2:11).
Ponder this glorious truth and make it your personal reality. Because this sovereign, creator God so loved you and me, he clothes himself in human flesh and being born of a woman, comes down to earth as glorious and holy light incarnated in Jesus Christ. And it is this glorious light that “rises upon you and his glory appears over you.”
Unlike the people of Isaiah’s day, we have received more than 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 now live in the new reality of God’s Kingdom of light and glory shining on us in the here and now.
Should we not be more confident and enthusiastic regarding God’s presence and goodness to us as we daily pray, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Mt. 6:10)?
The glorious evidence of a living, loving God in our midst, is made visible over all the world with each sunrise, as people of every nation are inspired and mobilized by the Christ-like spirit of love and compassion to care for and help others in their need; that is, “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8).
The remarkable truth is that this glorious light of Christ does much more than just make us feel good and confident. This “Jesus” light 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 persons and nations far and near to us. 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.”
HAPPY NEW YEAR – Rise and shine! God has come down to us in Jesus. The true light of the world and our salvation is here! 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 with confident faith, believing Christ’s new kingdom of redeeming light, hope, love, peace, joy, and life has dawned upon us and is moving toward complete and glorious fulfillment as the glorious eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth.
“O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.” AMEN!
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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 01/01/25
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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