There came a great light

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright…                                                                                                  Ps. 112:4

          It’s great to know that no matter how difficult life can become, if you are in Christ, this is the closest thing to hell we will ever know.  We can take comfort in that fact.  Though the darkness seems to close in, it will always pass.  Christians were not made for dark days.  Though we are admonished to shine in the darkness, we will one day remain in the light forever.  The enemy can do only so much, and for only so long.  This is something the early church had a much better comprehension of – only darkness can be dispelled.  It was the mentality that whatever is done will only bring more glory to the King.  If you try to put this fire out, it will only spread. 
         One of my favorite verses came out of the personal experience of the once irresolute disciple of Jesus – Peter.  “[He] called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1Pet.2:9).  This comes from one who experienced the painstaking denial of his best friend and Savior.  So many of us can relate to Peter – he was brash, impulsive, sometimes careless.  And yet the thrice-denying Peter of Matthew 26 is worlds apart from the post-pentecost Peter of Acts 2.  So what happened?  Well, first of all he received the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit, but I think there’s something else.  He came to know that even in darkness, light dawns for the upright--that stopping in the middle of the race is unacceptable.   He could have given up.  He could have quit.  He could have wallowed in self-pity the rest of his earthly life.  But hoping became believing, believing became knowing, knowing became repentance, and repentance became restoration.
         Every one of us can dwell on past failures, misfortunes, and unfulfilled promises.  But to do so would be focusing on the darkness instead of the dawn’s light.  No matter what circumstance you’re in, no matter what you’ve done, no matter what darkness comes, know that Christ alone is the answer.  Run to him – give it all to him.  Look for his light to shine forth in the darkness of your soul.  Lean on his righteousness.  Do what he’s wanted you to do from the very beginning – let go.  Hey, the more we try to control things, the worse they get.  But when we put things in the Father’s hands, the Bible tells us that he makes beauty from ashes (Isa. 61:3).
 
Question of the Day:
Am I looking for light’s dawn in the darkness?