The Light of Resurrection - Pt 6

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-11 ESV).

Three of your candles should be lit as you begin today. We have already extinguished four, each time bringing more darkness to the set. God wants people to be happy. And the only way we can be happy is by following his instructions. So he gave us his Word, his written Word, to make very clear to us where our life comes from and how we can keep it. However, again and again we think our ideas are better than God’s. And we turn from life to death. Extinguish another candle. Albert Einstein said, “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.” The Apostle Paul put it a bit differently. He said the more he wanted to do well, the worse he did; the more he wanted to be good, the worse he actually was; what he wanted to do, he didn’t, and what he didn’t want to do, he did (cf. Romans 7:19). Isn’t it amazing how such a little thing as blowing out one candle can make such a large impact on your life? You can almost feel the darkness as it grows larger, threatening to overtake the light. Over the past fifteen years or so I have become increasingly more claustrophobic. It usually affects me at night. I really don’t see well without my glasses. So, when I wake in the middle of the night I reach for them immediately. There is always a moment of disorientation. I’m not quite sure what’s “out there.” At least that’s true until I can see. That moment of panic is held at bay with strategically placed night lights. Seeing is always easier for me. Seeing requires light. Our world, our lives were dark beyond our capacity to see the way until Jesus came. Easter is the celebration of the turning on of the lights! The darkness cannot ever overcome this light. John begins his gospel account like this: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 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 1:1-5 ESV). In a few days we are going to celebrate a holiday that points us to THE Light. Think on the great grace of this act of God. Ponder the immeasurable mercy of Jesus’ sacrifice.