I read today in Matthew where the prophet Isaiah was quoted speaking of when Jesus came, in the land of Galilee, the "people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, Light has dawned."
If you know the book of John, you know that it begins speaking of the beginning in which was "the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God....and this Word was the Light of men," meaning Christ Jesus.This Word "light" is known by all as something we like, we need, we want. Whether used figuratively or literally, we all are drawn to the "light." Something to shed joy amid the darkness surrounding.
It was interesting while speaking of "evil"with my language teacher the other day, the word I made up while searching for the right one, we corrected as simply,"dunkelheit,"or darkness, as all people are able to relate evil with darkness. It only makes sense. Even so, all men are aware that our world is full of this evil, this darkness. And we search for a way out, an escape from it all. A "light." I know this because my teacher herself has been scarcely if at all informed about the Bible and the light that it sheds, however very aware of the darkness surrounding. And as many agree, Europe spiritually speaking, is very dark. This, we feel.
This picture of a valley, a region sitting in darkness, strikes a note with me as I find myself feeling as though this is where we live. When I think about the experiences I have had in the past considering churches and Christian groups while in America, it is 180 degrees different from the world we are now experiencing. This once spoken of "long awaited Jesus" is, again, seemingly no longer long awaited. We have been taken out of our Christian subculture (in the US) where the presence of the body of Christ is simply strong enough where some Christians even miss the fact that they don't actually have a relationship with Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior. And now we are missing this "body life" altogether, and must strive in our own personal walks to maintain what we personally know is true yet plead with the Lord to increase in His Church and body, among the darkness here.
We pray the words of the song as it continues, that Jesus will be our light and continue to set us free from the sin in this world and the radiating impact that it has. As we know, Jesus is the Light that radiates in this dark world and we pray that He will, as He was,
"....born to set (this) thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth, thou art.
Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king.
Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone.
By thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne. "
J.R.
J.R.
