Most mornings, I am up much earlier than Terri. I go into the kitchen to make the morning coffee, and I do it mainly in the dark. I might turn on the small light over the stove or use the light from the refrigerator, but other than that, I keep most of the lights off.
It’s not because I like the darkness. I’m not a big fan of darkness. Darkness symbolizes various things in scripture — from fear to ignorance to evil. It’s easy to see why. Darkness represents fear because you never know what might lurk in the shadows. Darkness speaks of evil because the ones who perform evil deeds prefer to be hidden in the darkness. Darkness represents ignorance because if you’ve ever stubbed your toe on a piece of furniture in the darkness because you didn’t “know” exactly where it was, then you understand that.
So why do I stumble around in the darkness? If I have the lights on, it is probably time to start rising. Terri prefers the slowly brightening room from the morning sun to awaken her, but the sun arrives a little late in the winter. Lying in bed, wondering if she should get up, that sliver of light shining under the door tells her it’s morning and time to start moving.
Light streams out of darkened clouds to illuminate a lake. Hills are visible nearby.
Photo by Davide Cantelli on Unsplash
In the summer, the rising sun, diffused through the closed blinds, gently wakes her from her sleep. In the winter, it is the lights from the living room. Either way, she is waiting for the light to shine.
I was thinking of the Epiphany, in conjunction with the verses from Isaiah 60, which says:
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. - Isaiah 60:1–3 (ESV)
These verses refer to Israel in the Old Testament but speak to all of God’s people. Jesus declared himself the Light of the world, and John wrote this:
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:4–5 (ESV)
Epiphany is not about any light but the light of Christ; it is the antidote to the darkness. Against fear, the light of Christ brings hope. And as to ignorance, his light is both wisdom and knowledge. In this light, wickedness comes against the righteousness of God.
It is not so much that the light came but that it came to us — the ones dwelling in darkness. The Christ did not just shine, but His lamp shone upon us. We have hope, wisdom, and righteousness in His light so that we can oppose against the darkness.
Epiphany is like the sliver of light under the door that says, “Come out of the darkness, it’s time to get up!” To paraphrase Isaiah, “Get out of bed, and SHINE because the LIGHT has arrived!”
Please Pray For: a local family down the street. Dad shot and killed mom with their twin 5-year-olds in the car. Dad was arrested.
Please Pray For: those who live near us and don’t know the savior, that they might learn the true meaning of Christmas this year.
Please Pray For: the family of Joshua Recker, as he left his struggles behind him and went to be with the Lord.
Please Pray For: the family of Joshua Gassett, who took his own life.
Please Pray For: Bob and Joyce. Bob has returned to the hospital.
Please Pray For: Jack Williams, who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.
Please Thank God For: for Kathy, who received the organs she has been waiting for
Please Pray For: Geri Nay