The price of oil and gas is seesawing up and down. The stock market is acting erratically with its ups and downs. It has been declared the Strait of Hormuz is open and closed. We hear of negotiations to end the war in Iran, but each day brings chaos as to whether that is happening or not.
The chaotic times we are living through are truly cause to be frightened for our future and what that future might hold.
In my own life as a pastor, I’ve tried to be a beacon of hope, drawing others toward the light of Jesus Christ. In John 8:12 Jesus declares “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” This passage is located right after Jesus rescues a woman who has been “caught” in the act of adultery. I put caught in quotes because of course, there had to also be a man caught too, but there’s no man brought before Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees want to know if they should stone this woman as is prescribed in the law. Jesus doesn’t tell them to stone her, or not to stone her. He simply asks them to consider if they who will do the stoning are without sin. Of course, they all walk away. All of this takes place at the temple. This is when Jesus speaks of being the light of the world. Truly the light knows darkness, and sees it when it appears. In that instance, it was the darkness of judgement brought by those unqualified to judge. The light shone through that darkness and dispersed it.
The light’s only duty is to dispel darkness. Wherever darkness threatens to invade our lives, light is the only thing that can move it away from us. Jesus says he is the light of the world. If we take his statement to its logical conclusion, it would mean if we apply Jesus’ thoughts, words, and deeds to any and every situation we find ourselves in, the darkness should be moved back away from us.
I believe we are living through some very dark times. Everything seems to be in upheaval. What we have depended on as bedrock solid is shifting beneath our feet. Darkness is closing in on us, and it has given cause for fear to take hold.
If we allow the fear that is threatening to rule over us, to be implanted in us, we are doomed and darkness will surely cover us. This can happen when we don’t invite the light of the world to stand beside us.
When I see what is playing out before us today, as awful and horrendous as it is, it is merely the attempts of tyrannical forces to enshroud us in darkness. The chaos itself is a force of darkness. Some of those who have temporary power, understand how chaos can be used to their benefit. But those who know the light of the world, realize how temporary is the power wielded by the unscrupulous. Those who know and live in the light of Jesus, know our God, and our God’s power and love are the strongest and most resilient force in all the universe.
I’m not immune to feelings of despair or fear. We all have those things which attempt to take control of our life and our sanity. What I do know is, when I feel those things, I know where I can go to shine some light into those dark places.
You and I know the “greatest story ever told,” and for us it will always bring us into the light. I cringe at the thought of the horrors of death and destruction we are witnessing. I ache for the persons who are being used as fodder in what seems to be a mad world. But I find hope in knowing the light of the world still shines, and what we may be going through now is not the last word. The last word belongs to God. And God has sent the light into the world and it will never be extinguished.
My prayer for each of us is that we invite the light into our lives, and we allow that light to shine through us. Our words, our actions, our deeds, have the potential to shine the light into every situation we find ourselves in. If enough of us let the light shine in and through us, I can guarantee us, it will drive the darkness out of the world.
Your companion on the Way,
Pastor Tom