Source of Light – June 1, 2019

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Revelation 21:23

Source of Light

The man was desperate to build a fire. You could see the worry on his face and hear the strain in his voice. He was tired and cold. But his campfire would not light because even the dead leaves, he gathered were too wet to burn. And nighttime had already come.

The History Channel ran a series that featured 10 men left to fend for themselves on the northwestern corner of Vancouver Island. The northwestern corner of Vancouver Island is pure wilderness. Massive trees and brush are everywhere. It’s crawling with cougars, wolves, and bears. And it’s wet. It receives more rainfall per year than any other place in the Northern Hemisphere. Every man there had survival training, but each was on his own, as each was isolated from the others by miles. The question posed by the series was simple. How long could each man last before giving up?

One thing became clear. Without a fire—without a source of light and warmth—the darkness, cold, and wild animals that surrounded them became too much. Without a source of light, they would not last.

The same holds true for you and me—your soul and mine. Without a source of light, the darkness and cold that surround us in this broken world becomes too much. Without a source of light, we are lost.

Enter Jesus, the Light of the World. He pierced the darkness of our sin. Through his death on the cross he went to the source of our darkness and destroyed it. Then he rose from the darkness of his tomb. And now, through faith in him, you and I can bask in the light of his forgiveness.

But here’s what we need to remember. When the rains come, when the storms blow, when the troubles of life pour down on us in sheets, the source of our light will not go out. Because the source of our light is Jesus.

In Jesus you are secure, warm, and safe. So breathe easy. And sleep well.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are my light. In your forgiveness and grace I am warm and safe. Thank you. Amen.