Morning Sunrise
"The rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death."
Luke 1:78 (NIV)
Last Thursday morning I woke up with a heavy heart. Wednesday's Alexandria, Virginia violent shooting attack on Congressional Republicans practicing for the annual Congressional Charity baseball game hit really close to home. Congressman Gary Palmer is our current representative, a long time friend, and fellow church member. Each Sunday it's been encouraging to see at least one congressional representative keep a campaign promise: Congressman Palmer comes home each weekend to see his family and to attend his home church. At the time of the shootings, Gary was on the baseball field playing shortstop. Congressman Steve Scalise ( R- Louisiana) who was shot in the hip was playing second base. The whole incident was a very visible reminder of our country's division and our culture's increasing darkness.
Besides the shootings, some dear friends are facing serious health or home challenges. I'm a "fixer" by nature and I can't fix any of my friends' problems. And while I know prayer is to be my first resort, I confess it's usually my last. But Thursday morning found me praying for my friends. Within a few minutes, I received a text from one of them. The text included a spectacular Thursday morning sunrise with her words, "God is good."
"Indeed He is," I thought. For as long as I've known my dear friend, her theology has been very somewhat of an a la carte variety. In her worldview, it doesn't matter which god we choose, just pick the one that's right for you and pray. I was encouraged and excited to see that God used a glorious morning sunrise to prompt her to acknowledge Him. I quickly texted back the opening words to Psalm 50:1 "The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets." In all of the current challenges my friend is facing, God used a sunrise to remind both of us of His goodness. He also brought to my mind the Psalmist's words, "The heavens declare the glory of God." Psalm 19:1 (NIV)
A few minutes later in preparation for a Bible study I'll be teaching this fall, I began reading in the first chapter of Luke's Gospel. I suddenly came across these words: "The rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace." (Luke 1:79-80) And just as God had spoken to my friend through a sunrise, He spoke to me then from His Word. No matter how dark our personal circumstances, professional challenges, political polarization, religious terrorism, senseless violence, or pluralistic culture, God's Word is still a "lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path." (Psalm 119:105)
Michael Wilcock in his book The Message of Luke writes, "Before there can be a right relationship between man and man, there must be a right relationship between man and God, and the sin which spoils that must be repented and removed. Thus in due course Luke will quote the apostles' preaching that Jesus is the One whom God has made "Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins." (Acts 5:31)
Jesus, the Light of the World, didn't just come to bring light into our darkness. He came as Savior to save us from our sin. And each sunrise is a daily reminder to pray for God's light to shine, not just in our own darkness, but also in the hearts and lives of those whom we love. More than light, we pray for salvation, from death to life, through Christ Jesus.
Amen and Amen!
Donna