Wednesday, December 20
Isaiah 40:18-41:10 and Revelation 8:1-13
Late December has always been a difficult time for me as a student and, later, as a professor. It is depressing to rise in the morning to blackness and cold and to go home to the same. I enjoy any Christmas lights I can see as it just seems to brighten the long nighttime that envelopes our lives. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light…(Isaiah 9:2)
As we walk through the Advent season, we are reminded of how Jesus was the light of the world. The promise of a Savior was made at the dawn of time when Adam and Eve fell into sin. This cast all humanity into the darkness and despair of condemnation outside of God’s righteousness. Mankind was truly lost.
This mirrors an even darker time for all humanity, the hours between Good Friday and the brilliance of dawn on Easter Sunday. For those that prayed and walked with Jesus during his earthly ministry, the shock and brutality of his betrayal and death were beyond comprehension. Even though Jesus told them what would happen, they seemed to be lost in the darkness of his death. Worse, they had lost sight of the promises that God had made to all believers. Isaiah 41:10 reminds us that we should fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
God never lost sight of Jesus’ disciples and followers, then or now. We are not lost because his mission was completed and the brightness of His victory over death was evidenced by the empty tomb.
As we approach the end of the Advent season and the shortest day of the year, may we be comforted that the gloominess of winter will eventually give way to sunnier days ahead. As we look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus, we are also reminded that in Him there is no darkness at all (I John 1:5). As Christians, we should not focus on the spirit of Christmas, but rather, on the spirit of Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, let us be the uncommon light to those still in the dark.
DR. PATRICK STEELE
Arts & Sciences, CUW
About this series
“God With Us: the uncommon advent of our Savior” is a sampling of biblical meditations composed by members of the CUWAA community. It is our prayer that you will take time during the Advent season to read and reflect upon God’s Word and await the coming of Jesus with newfound enthusiasm and anticipation through the Holy Spirit.