John 11:10 “It is when he walks by night that
he stumbles, for he has no light.”
Like
most people in the US, I’ve been watching the football play-offs. I always get
excited at this time of year when the best teams begin to emerge from a long
and busy season. Some teams peak just before the play-offs and miss out on the
wild cards each year. Others excel and when it comes to the elimination rounds,
some unexpected team just seems to beat everybody’s expectations to reach the
Super Bowl.
As
I watched the games, it dawned on me that without modern lighting, none of
these games could be played at night. The great spectacle of the Super Bowl
would have to be played early in the day which would diminish the whole
occasion. As soon as dusk occurred, the game would be over, without the illumination
of the great lights above and throughout the stadiums. Teams would stumble in
the dark and players would be injured. Television broadcasting would be hopeless
and even the view from the blimp in the sky would be like looking into a dark
crater. Without light, the game would quickly end and the whole event would not
be worth watching or even playing.
Light
is essential to our modern lives; it’s also a necessary part of our spiritual
growth. Without the light of Christ in our world, would life itself be worth
living? Wouldn’t the darkness overwhelm our spirits and diminish our existence?
When Jesus comes into our lives, He brightens our spirits, enlightens our
minds, and dazzles our souls. His light brings meaning and purpose, direction
and encouragement to our situations, experiences, and moments. He is the Light of
our world, our souls, and our hearts. If we stumble in the dark, He raises us
up back into His light; if we fall into despair, He is ready to take hold of us
and lead towards God’s everlasting Kingdom.
Questions for personal reflection
When has Christ’s
light helped me in my life? Where do I see His light in the world today?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Light of the
World and the Lamp for our souls. You direct our paths and give us guidance each
day. Help us to follow Your light, so that we may see the way ahead that You
have planned for us. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is
the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, TN.
If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.
Today’s
image is one of John’s latest Psalm project drawings. It’s a crucifixion
interpretation of a verse from Psalm 129, done in an Art Deco style. If you
would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8087/8354865975_5fee871f1c_b.jpg
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