The other night the moon was barely a slither in the sky and it was especially dark outside. I had to make several runs from my house to taxi my kids around and ended up making quite an unusual observation on my many trips to and from my car.
I couldn’t help but notice every time as I was leaving, and walking away from the back porch light, I couldn’t see a thing. I would fumble through the darkness feeling my way around till I got to my car. Then upon my return, in exactly the same lighting conditions, I was surprised to notice that when I was walking toward the light I could see perfectly every step of the way. On my second trip out, again, the same thing.
By my third trip I found myself standing there halfway between my house and my car, turning back and forth, to and from the light, to make sure my observation was sound. Frankly it doesn’t sound scientifically plausible and it was clear this was not caused by my shadow.
Sure enough, I could see almost as clear as day all the way to the source of the light, yet as soon as I turned my back to the light I couldn’t even see my very next step. I tried this again several feet nearer the light source and several feet further from the light source. It didn’t matter where I stood, when I looked towards the light I could see clearly, and when I turned my back to the light I could only fumble in the darkness. You probably won’t try this at home because you are not as strange as I am, but if you do I’m sure you will make the same observation.
Those who know me know that I rarely make a physical observation without making a spiritual one as well. My mind was flooded with visions of my past and I could immediately see that this has been a great truth throughout my lifetime. As long as my eyes are on God and His glory, I can see clearly my next steps, yet as soon as I avert my eyes from His glory to earthly cares I fumble around as in darkness.
Jesus said, “… I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” [John 8:12] This is strongly demonstrated in how my life was transformed when I set my eyes on Jesus, just as foretold by the prophets millennia ago.
Before the promised messiah was even born God promised through Isaiah, “… I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do to them, and not forsake them.” [Isaiah 42:16]
There are more prophecies than I could ever list here. Many prophets of other eras have shared similar messages, such as these who spoke at the time of Christ’s birth. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began.” [Luke 1:68-70] “Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. [Luke 1:78-79]
I find it easy to believe these prophets because this is exactly what Jesus has done in my life. He has brought me from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge, from foolishness to wisdom, from chaos to peace. This list could go on forever, but the bottom line is that He has given me beauty for ashes and life in place of death.
So therefore I shall fix my eyes on the light of His glory and listen for Him to speak to my heart, because, “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of your countenance. In your name shall they rejoice all the day: and in your righteousness shall they be exalted. For you are the glory of their strength: and in your favor our horn shall be exalted.” [Psalm 89:15-17]
Now, “…Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” [Ephesians 5:14] “While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light…” [John 12:36] For Christ said, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” [John 12:46]