Thankful for the light of Jesus' love in times of gloom

In my opinion. we who live in the Mat-Su Valley are privileged to reside in one of the most beautiful places on God’s earth. But. . . the last week or so perhaps you have experienced the sloppy conditions of an Alaskan fall along with me. You know that after some beautiful snow on Thursday evening, October 28, we have for the last 5 days experienced clouds and winds, and often rain. The temperatures have not been cold enough for snow, nor warm enough for outdoor enjoyment. Actually, while “sloppy” might be one description of our recent weather, “gloomy” is perhaps a better description of our late fall conditions this past week.

When the weather is “gloomy,” does it affect your spirits? I confess that after a week or so of gloomy, cloudy, rainy weather, I can tell a difference. I continue doing the tasks I have before me. But, it is amazing how one day of clear skies, shining with the light of the sun, can lift my spirits. In fact, on Tuesday, November 2, as I was walking out of the Palmer Post Office, I looked to the northeast, up the Matanuska River valley. Way at the end of what I could see, up toward the Matanuska Glacier, a patch of blue sky shone through the clouds above me. Just that little bit of clear sky made a difference. And then, on Wednesday morning the clouds were breaking. The white snow on the Talkeetna Mountains behind my house was shining brightly in the morning sun. My spirits were lifted! God is good!

On November 2, as I was reading through my devotions, one of the Bible readings was from Matthew 11 where Jesus teaches, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) The devotional writing following this Gospel lesson was from George McDonald (1824-1905), whose writings inspired C.S. Lewis in what he wrote. McDonald wrote of a Christian leader who faced some gloomy times. “He fell into a mournful mood over the troubles of his race. . . But now that he had begun to hope, he saw a glimmer of light somewhere at the end of the dark cave in which he had all at once discovered that he was buried alive.” (A Curate’s Awakening, For All the Saints, Volume II, page 1063). The glimmer of light experienced by this Christian leader came from the love and the light of Jesus.

We live in a world of trouble, of tribulation, of sin, and suffering. We should not be surprised that the trials of life at times invade the peace and the hope a Christian has in Jesus. But, Jesus has overcome the darkness of this world. Listen to what the apostle John writes about Jesus in the first chapter of his gospel. “4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:4-5) Jesus is God’s light for a world of darkness. Unfortunately, people often miss this light. And, after an encounter with the legalism of the Jewish religious leaders in John 8:1-11, Jesus Himself describes this truth for us, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12)

In a world of disarray and confusion, because those created by God do not want to follow Him, Jesus gives clear direction in His Word, in His law, in His wisdom and teaching. In a world of personal failure, of selfishness, of evil, and of party spirit, Jesus offers forgiveness for the sin of the world through His dying on the cross. Jesus offers this forgiveness and this light to all who believe in Him. In a world where people are full of gloom and doom, not only because of the troubles in our midst, but also because we can wonder in life’s trials if anyone even cares, we have Jesus who loves us and promises, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” In a world of despair, and death, Jesus offers eternal life because He not only died for the sins of the world, but He rose defeating Satan, and defeating sin, and defeating death. Jesus is more powerful than our failures. His love overcomes our sins. He offers eternal life to us, and to those whom we love.

We Alaskans are incredibly blessed by the beauty of God’s world around us. We should always have hearts full of thanks. However, even we can face the gloom of darkness and sloppy weather, and of the trials and tribulations in our world. I thank God for what our Lord Jesus promises, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Can you remember when the light of Jesus’ love brought you out of a time of gloom?