The Great Light

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The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. – Isaiah 9:2

Are you afraid of the dark? If so, you are not alone. Whether we like to admit a true fear or not, there are things that are scary about the dark: we can’t see where we are going, and we can’t identify hazards that might be surrounding us. Darkness that is so enveloping keeps us from knowing what is going on around us and sometimes puts us in danger.

How comforting, then, that in the Bible verse from Isaiah, God describes his Son, our Savior, as a great light in the darkness. Jesus is the light that came to illuminate the way for those who couldn’t see where they were going. That’s us. We were all living in the darkness of sin, unable to see our way out, unable to find the path to eternal life, unable to even see the dangers that are all around us. This verse tells us we were not just living in physical darkness and ignorance, but we were living in the land of the shadow of death. In other words, we were on the path to hell. This is much more serious than feeling a little lost in a dark house, or worrying about imaginary monsters hiding under our bed.

When Jesus came into this world to live a perfect life, suffer and die for the sins of the world, and rise again, he secured our salvation and revealed it to us. That’s why Jesus is called the light. He made a way out of our darkness, and he guides us on the way to heaven. We no longer have to wander around in the darkness and guilt of our sin. Thank God for caring enough about us that he sent the Light to save us from darkness.

Ending life

I feel like ending my life…

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In our daily journey called life, we have days that fill us with happiness, and days that fill us with sorrow. For many of us, there are more days filled with sorrow and loneliness, which can lead us to feel like ending our life’s journey. These continuous feelings can be overwhelming and make us feel like the journey isn’t worth the travel.

Our life’s journey began at the moment of conception, as we are each a wonderful creation made and formed in the image and likeness of God, (Genesis 1:26). The Psalm writer states, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:13-14). We tend not to see ourselves this way. Instead, we see our personal failures, faults, and shortcomings. Because of this, we can be consumed by our failures and allow them to be the focus of our daily journey. “I am not worthy of God’s love”, is the message we send ourselves. These negative messages lead us down the wrong path, the path of self-destruction.

So what causes us to focus on these negative self-destructing thoughts that can eventually cause us to feel like ending our lives? In a word, sin. Sin destroyed everything perfect that God designed. Sin impacts the way we feel about ourselves and has a direct impact on the feelings of despair that looms over our head like a thick, black cloud. When we feel like ending our lives, we are at a point in our journey where life is not worth living anymore, life is too hard, too painful, and the thick, black cloud is not looming over our heads, but rather, we are living in the cloud everyday.

There is a way to take a different path on our life’s journey and that is learning about Jesus. Jesus lived a perfect life for us. He died for us and made everything right simply because he loves us. (John 3:16) He desires to have all of us in heaven with him and ending our lives out of despair prevents us from entering his glorious kingdom.

So, on our life’s journey, reach out your hands to Jesus, seek his will for your life, and he will end all of your feelings of despair and sorrow by renewing you with a sense of peace, comfort, and joy that will last for an eternity.

Coming again

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If you want to find a Biblical subject about which there are widespread misinformation and uncertainty, the topic of the Last Day would fit that description. But it doesn’t need to be. In reality, it’s quite simple, and, for those who believe in Jesus, it’s chock-full of good news.

Think about Jesus’ ascension. Jesus had led the disciples up onto the Mt. of Olives, he’d lifted up his nail-marked hands and blessed them. As he was blessing them, he powerfully ascended up into the sky, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

Then we read, “Suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven'” (Acts 1:10,11 NIV).

What’s going to happen on the Last Day? Very simply, Jesus will come back! Come back how? The same way he left—with his hands upraised in blessing, with the nail marks clearly visible. Does that sound like something to fear or something to eagerly expect? Obviously, the latter! At least, for those who believe in Jesus, it’s something to look forward to.

The Bible gives us a few more details: there will be the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God will be heard. All those who have died before the Last Day will be raised up, their bodies and souls will be rejoined, and their bodies will be made glorious. Those who are alive when Jesus returns won’t die—their bodies will simply be changed. The believers will be gathered to be with Jesus, and the unbelievers will be sent to suffer eternally in hell, separated from God. And all of it will take place so quickly that we’ll hardly know it’s happened until it’s done.

When will this take place? God tells us that Jesus will return suddenly, like a thief in the night. Could it happen today? Absolutely. Could the world last another 100 years? Yes. Could Jesus wait millions of years before he returns? Sure.

But what you know for sure is that when he returns, it will be great. After all, it’s JESUS who’s returning! The nail marks on his hands will still be there. He loves you, loves you so much that he was willing to die for you, to pay for your sins. If he loved you enough to die for you, will he also love you enough to take you to be with him in heaven? Absolutely!

So we pray the prayer which is found at the end of the Bible: “Jesus says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20 NIV).

(For more on the Last Day, read Matthew 24–25, 1Corinthians 15, 1Thessalonians 4:13–5:11. For some neat pictures of heaven, read Revelation 5,7, 21-22.)