Lights of the Lord
Lights of the Lord
Isaiah 60:1-3
1"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. 2See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
The themes of light and dark are prominent in Scriptures. They contrast light as good with dark as evil. When the prophet Isaiah spoke the words of our text, I’m sure the people understood that when the Lord rises upon a people, and His glory appears over them, they are themselves LIGHTS OF THE LORD. God makes it clear when He said, 3Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. In other words, God gave them power over the darkness and evil that fills the world.
Of course, it is not physical darkness that the prophet speaks of in 2See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples.” There is another darkness much more menacing. It is the darkness of sin and spiritual death. The darkness of living ones life separated from God. Jesus speaks of this when He says, “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
Sadly, but truly, this is the condition of everyone before the miracle of spiritual rebirth; Before the Lord shines his glorious light on us in baptism. But when God shines His light on us, we are empowered to see our spiritual depravity and our need for a Savior. And in His light we see the Light of all mankind, Jesus Christ. Then we take hold of the gracious promises of God. Then we are truly empowered to say, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Then we are prepared as LIGHTS OF THE LORD.
Have you ever wondered how God does that? Remember Genesis 1 which says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep.” Yet, in His work of creating God simply says, “Let there be light” and there was light.” God knows how hard it is for us to keep His light shining. And when it begins to fail in us, He is able to simply say, “Let there be light.”
Christian people sometimes forget what they are in the Lord. We tend to rely more on the old familiar fashions of the flesh rather than on the certainty of the spirit, God and His Word. Then darkness again settles over the soul and blocks the Light. It is just like hiding a lamp under a box. Then the light we have been given becomes useless for extending God’s light to others.
Even so, the refreshing word of God reminds us who we are and what we are in the Lord. It’s as if God is again saying to us, “Let there be light.”
Are there situations in your life that blocks the light? Is some aspect of your family relationships still in darkness? Then, hear the word of the Lord, “Let there be light.”
In the midst of the dark night of the soul we are faced with temptation. We are tempted to do, think and say things to others which do not edify and build up. We are tempted when we want to be other than the saints God has created us to be. We are tempted when doubt and distress make us think it will be better for us to go our own way and try life on our terms.
Yet, we Christians have something the world does not have. We have the Spirit of the most High God. That Spirit leads us to pray, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, … Forgive us our trespasses.” God hears our prayer and comes to our aid, “Let there be light.” And God separates the light from the darkness.
Sometimes the darkness seems thick and the light seems long in coming. Still, we press on in prayer with King David saying, “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? All day long they twist my words they are always plotting to harm me. They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, eager to take my life.” God hears our cries to “Let there be light.” and Jesus breaks through the darkness of our fear with the clear light of God’s love.
Jesus himself has said it, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Then he says to all who believe, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill.”
We are light by virtue of our new life in Christ. Yes, we are LIGHTS OF THE LORD. Isaiah encourages us to celebrate the accomplished fact, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you…Darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears before you.” We are LIGHTS OF THE LORD to this dark world.
Because of our presence, life can be better. We are LIGHTS OF THE LORD. Schools can be brighter and better because we are there. We are LIGHTS OF THE LORD. Workplaces and coworkers will be blessed and edified because we are there. We are LIGHTS OF THE LORD. Our neighborhood and churches shine with the grace of God because we are in them. We are LIGHTS OF THE LORD. That light of God is in you, it goes wherever you go. And where the light of the Lord goes, darkness is dispelled.
I am convinced that in the Lord we are LIGHTS OF THE LORD not because we are so deserving or important. We are such only because of the mystery of the unsearchable riches of Christ that has become ours through faith. In Christ we are empowered with His light to push back fear; to push back despair; to push back darkness. In Christ we are empowered to rise and shine to the glory of our Lord and for the blessing of the world. In Christ there is no fear. And again we say with King David, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? We are LIGHTS OF THE LORD! Amen.