Have you ever been to a “Candlelight Service?” The darkened room is changed by one lit candle. The light is then shared with another, then another.
Within a minute, the darkness is overcome by the light that continues to expand to transform the atmosphere into glorious!
Any description is shallow and flat, as a picture’s view of the ocean’s edge or a two-dimensional firework display.
To be present and witness the absence of light then the growing glow of illumination is like “seeing” Love with the eyes and all the senses.
Immediately, the heart is touched by the solution. “Yes, what the world needs now is Love.”
Child-like faith is ignited. Hearts melt. Eyes witness darkness to light. Hope shines in the atmosphere.
The true and living God is our only hope.
“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light” Genesis 1:2,3.
God’s Word sparks faith. Faith is sight to God’s grace poured out in the light.
The voice of Jesus is heard in each open heart. Without a sound, only expanding light.
“Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God” Mark 10:27, NLT.
First, the darkness.
But one lit candle speaks: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord,” Luke 2:11.
And the reminder:
But, “He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem” Isaiah 53:3.
Jesus suffered and died.
For me. He took all my sin, failure, and guilt on the cross and suffered my punishment.
But as light fills the room, the nature of God sings: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness” Psalm 103:8.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16.
The expanding light is as a voice we can hear, “I am the light of the world” John 8:12.
God’s Word is illuminated to all who are open to His Spirit, “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen” Matthew 28:6.
The dark atmosphere transformed to light gives the opportunity and choice to respond,
“Yes, Lord, God. I receive Your light, Your love, Your grace, Your life. Your kingdom come into my life today. Take my hard, selfish heart and give me a new soft and tender heart. Transform me. I desperately need You!”
In Jesus’ name, our hope and light of the world.
