“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.” -Isaiah 9: 2
Timothy Keller concludes Chapter 5 of Walking with God through Pain and Suffering with the astute observation that we employ many ways to keep the world’s darkness contained, but it’s impossible to do it forever:
“This is a dark world. There are many ways to keep that darkness at bay, but we cannot do it forever. Eventually the lights of our lives- love, health, home, work- will begin to go out. And when that happens, we will need something more than what our own understanding, competence, and power can give us.”
Pastor Keller states that we need the light of Jesus because, to a great degree, this world’s evil and darkness comes from within us. As Martin Luther taught, human nature is in curvatus in se– curved in on itself. Thus Jesus did not come to earth the first time to bring justice but rather to bear it.
The author adds that Jesus’ death and resurrection empower us, through the Holy Spirit, to diminish evil in our own hearts as well as oppose and endure the evils we find in our communities and society. Jesus is the light of the world. He can be a light for us in dark places when all other lights go out.
Today’s question: How has Jesus’ light started to shine in the darkness of your ministry downsizing or vocation loss? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Suffering as the enemy of God”
