New

New
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” -Isaiah 9:2

 Christmas has come and gone. An old year has departed, and a new year has taken its place. The Israelites of old had a habit of looking back while moving forward, and it isn’t a bad idea. Recalling our history, remembering what God has done, has a way of encouraging and strengthening us that nothing else can do. So, I encourage you, as we move forward into a new year, to remember all that God has done and is doing. But as you do that, never forget that He is still working and doing and changing lives, every moment of every day.
 
You will likely read this on Epiphany, which for us is January 6. Other traditions may mark it on other days, but no matter. Western Christians regard this as the time when we remember the visit of the wise men; for Eastern Christians, it is usually a commemoration of the baptism of Jesus; some people even commemorate the wedding at Cana on this day. There is a parallel, of course. In all cases, it basically comes down to a realization of the deity of Christ. The worship of the wise men, God’s announcement that Jesus is His beloved Son, or the first miracle recorded by John--it is always a time to remember the greatness and the uniqueness of Christ. As we move forward in this new year, let us remember the promise of Christmas—we who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
 
It feels to many of us as if there is a lot of darkness these days, and it’s true; there is. It’s easy to think that this is new, different, worse than it’s ever been, but that part is not accurate. You see, long, long, ago, a woman named Eve and her husband, whose name was Adam, made a choice. They did what was forbidden. And from that day until now, there has been darkness. All the evil, all the wrong, all the death and tragedy and sickness—all of it—traces back to that one moment. As tough as things seem right now, it’s no darker than it’s ever been. Sin has existed since Eden.
 
The good news of the gospel is that we have a cure for sin, and the cure is redemption through Jesus Christ. As I have grown older, I have realized that I cannot get rid of all the darkness in the world. But I am not helpless against it, either. I can bring light to the places I go and the people I meet. I can carry the light out into the world and speak to people of hope and peace and joy and love. I don’t really make New Year’s resolutions, but I do pray for a renewed sense of purpose and a renewed love for people. This year I have decided that the important thing isn’t to be right or to win or to be admired or anything like that. The important thing is to be light. The Christ candle of the Advent wreath isn’t only for Christmas Eve. I can share the Christ-light every day of the year. So can you, and I encourage you to do it. It is a powerful thing. Light reflects. The more you share, the more you will see.
 
Happy New Year.