God’s Eternal Sunrise
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ave you ever seen a beautiful
sunrise? If you answer yes, then you have experienced a masterpiece from God.
However, before one can see all the glory and brilliance of such splendor,
there have already been several hours of darkness.
The night
can bring many frightening and uncertain sounds. During the hours of darkness,
night creatures give forth their strange sounds, while (in some forests)
animals of prey stalk to kill.
It is a
time when many crimes are committed, because thieves believe that their evil
deeds can be covered by the darkness. Also in the darkness, so many things in
God’s beautiful creation are hidden from human eyes.
Then it
happens! The base line of the horizon reveals a white band that gradually
widens and rises upward. There is added the many splashes of gold, orange, and
yellow colors reaching up-ward to paint the sky as the blackness of darkness
yields, becomes thinner, and gradually dissipates.
In another
moment, the outer circle of the large blazing ball of light appears, defying
all darkness in its pathway. During these few moments of wonder and awe, the
night sounds cease, fears subside, and all the brightness, color, and beauty of
creation sparkle and glow in the light of a newborn day.
A Spiritual
Sunrise
The thought
of such a beautiful sunrise causes my mind and heart to travel back many
centuries to another dark and cruel night. A time when sin had cast it’s shadow
of bleakness and darkness all the way down from Eden. Back to the time in
history when God decided to shine forth rays of His light to a world lost in
sin!
The night
had become so dark! Even the prophets who had spoken often of the dawning of a
new light had now been silent for four hundred years. The nation of Israel that
had been chosen to bring light to all nations had turned to idolatry and the
sins of the flesh. With their own selfish traditions and ignorance, they had
added to the darkness of the world.
First Rays of Light
The first
rays of light appeared and set the horizon aglow when God sent to the shepherds
of old, the sky filled with a chorus of angels.
They sang
forth a beautiful melodious announcement, “Glory to God in the highest, and
on earth
peace, good will
toward men” (Luke
2:14).
The world
was all shrouded in darkness as a man named Joseph (with Mary, his young wife)
traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem where the light of God’s Son would be born.
The city was crowded and the Inn full, but all the physical difficulties of
this life (added together) could not hold back this powerful light.
Thousands
cried out (as this light appeared) longing for the darkness because they loved
their sinful ways, but the “Sun of Righteousness” still burst forth in splendor and
brought in a new day. A day that has been shining with brilliant sunrays for
nearly two thousand.
This light
is present today for all who will obey and walk with Him in this light. Jesus
brings a light (to the obedient and faithful) so bright that the darkness of
all eternity is expelled.
This is the
light (the light of Jesus) that needs to be seen in ALL Bible classes, from ALL pulpits, and in the lives of ALL Christians in the world where we
live today. —BBBristow