This Little Light

 "For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”  – Matthew 24:27

 
 

What is the speed of dark?  This was a science question on one of my final exams many years ago.  You cans search all through the internet and find many different hypothesis and theories, but no proven fact that darkness has speed.  We all know that light has the speed of 186,000 miles per second, therefore the speed of dark must be the inverse of the speed of light or 1/186,000 miles per second.  When you see light you are seeing the absence of darkness, for darkness is all around you until a light source is introduced in one manner or another.  The stars, the moon and even the street lamps give off light during the night hours, so we are never fully engrossed in complete darkness. 

Even when you have entered an inner room in your home (with no windows) close the door and turn the lights off.  You will notice that you still see some traces of light.  Around the door frame, and even emitting from your shirt (if it’s white) or the sink or mirror perhaps.  Light is reflected from many things and therefore absorbed as a part of the process.  This allows light to continue to be emitted from these things even in the absence of a light source.  The longer these items are away from the light source the dimmer they will become though.  Light and darkness are direct opposites of each other.  They cannot co-exist.  Darkness is incapable of overcoming light.  When the two are brought together light will displace darkness, not the other way around.  All the way down to the very smallest of particles, light is either reflected or not depending completely on the strength of the light source and the molecular structure of the object. 

If you, like me, feel that there is more unrighteousness and evil in the world today, it is not because darkness became stronger.  No, it is because the light has become weaker.  The scriptures tell us that Jesus Christ is the light of the world.  In John 8:12, He claims to be “the light in the world…”  Jesus came that we all might have light in our darkness and be saved from the darkness.  For darkness is of this world, and light comes from righteousness which is not of this world.  In order to press back the darkness we need to enhance the visibility and strength of God’s message to the world.  There will come a day when we no longer need lamps, candles or lights for we will be in the ever present company of God himself.  As it was predicted in 2 Samuel 22:29 and fulfilled in Revelation 21:21 tells us that Jesus Christ will be our lamp in that day.  Do not hide His light under a bushel or keep it to yourself.  It is intended to grow stronger by sharing it with others. 

You all remember the children’s song, “This little light of mine,  I’m gonna let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”  Choose this day to share the light with those you meet.

New Jerusalem - Final Home

Revelation 21:9-12,22-27

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”  And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,  having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.  It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed

(22) And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.  And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.  By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,  and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.  They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.  But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The eternal living space for God’s children is the new Jerusalem.  Over 2 million square miles with 200-foot walls, larger than the countries of France or England as we know it.  No sun, no moon, no night.  The Lord’s light will shine eternally, and there will be no reason for a sun or moon to provide light.  God and the Lamb will be dwelling with mankind in this new realm.  We will be in His presence always; there is no need for a Temple, a synagogue, a holy of holies to seek God.  

Recall, if you will, the veil in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem tore from top to bottom when Jesus Christ was crucified.  This veil was the separation from God’s presence in the temple and was restricted to the high priest only.  When the veil was torn, it opened up access to God through Jesus Christ directly.  In this new Jerusalem, there is no temple, no veil, no holy of holies; we are in the presence of God and Jesus at all times.

No evil, no unclean presence, or detestable thing will be in this realm.  God’s perfect presence is protected from all unrighteousness and impurities.  It will be a realm of holiness and righteousness only.  Those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will be accepted in, filled with goodness and love for each other and God, the Father.  Paul tells us in 1st Corinthians 15:44, that our new resurrected bodies will be “spiritual” and capable of being in God’s presence and perfected glory.  Unlike our current existence, which is filled with original sin and unrighteousness.  We must be resurrected into our heavenly bodies to co-exist in the presence with God and the Lamb.

It is quite conceivable that nations will still exist in the new Jerusalem.  The definition of the design calls out 12 gates, one for each nation, tells us that there will at least be 12 nations in the new realm.  Also, we read in Revelation 12 that the promised Messiah “will rule over the nations”, and in Revelation 22, we will see that God talks about the leaves of the tree of life will heal all the nations.  

Much like the previous story of the Bridegroom going and preparing a place for Himself and the bride to live, Jesus told the disciples, in John 14, “I am going there to prepare a place for you . . . And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”  This new Jerusalem is the place which Jesus, the Bridegroom, has prepared for you and me.  He will return, just as He said He would, one day to take us there, where we will live eternally with Him.  Jesus Christ is the Light of the World (John 8:12) and will provide the unquenchable light for all eternity in this new realm.

These are the promises by which we hold onto.  The truth that God has a better plan for us than the world in which we live today.  Read Revelation 21 completely for an in-depth description of this new Jerusalem, and you will be amazed at the beauty and eloquence of detail provided in John’s vision from God.  We are destined to live in luxury eternally with God, the Father.  So when we say “do not store up treasures on earth, but rather in heaven where moth and rust and thieves cannot destroy or steal” (Matthew 6:19-21), this is what we refer to.  Your heavenly realm will be unbelievably beautiful and plentiful with God and the Lamb forever.

Prophecy 17: Isaiah 49:6

Daily Thoughts – December 21^st

Prophecy 17: Isaiah 49:6

"He [the Lord] says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." - Isaiah 49:6

Isaiah 49:6 and cross references

Do we need the Messiah today? Look around and ask yourself if you have it all under control. As we near the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, we should be reflecting on how this significant event; which literally split the calendar and brought hope to the nation of Israel; is alive in each of us. So what hope does he provide to the 21st century? We face issues of divisiveness, political unrest, global warming, perceived injustices, debates over absolute truth and morality, and a waning interest in the biblical truths. A recent study was done that showed in the late 1960s that 65% of Americans were Bible-believing Christians. Looking at the next generation (baby-boomers) it showed that only 35% of Americans profess themselves as Bible-believing Christians, and the following generation (busters) only 16%. Looking at the millennial and the gen-z generations, the predictions are that less than 5% will be Bible-believing Christians. Many would say that they believe in Jesus Christ, but that most religions are equally relevant in finding eternal salvation. So we need to reflect on what has changed in the last 50 years that has driven this decline in Christian beliefs?

The Messiah came to provide salvation for all man-kind, the tribes of Israel as well as the Gentiles. The prophecies we have observed over the last 3 weeks have all pointed to one individual, God's Messiah as the means to salvation. This foundational truth straight from the scriptures was critical for the people in Israel at the time of Isaiah's writing no more so than it is critical for us today.

All throughout the New Testament, we find examples of Jesus Christ preaching God's message to the masses. He was not segregating the Jewish brethren from the Gentiles. His miracles were upon the lepers, the Romans, the Samaritans as well as the Jewish. He forgave the sins of people from every walk of life and even broke bread with sinners and tax collectors. As prophesied in Isaiah 49 - the Messiah will be a light to the Gentiles and bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Paul the apostle references this once again in Acts 13:47 in his dialogue with the Jewish leaders and converts.

This is our mission as well my brothers and sisters in Christ. We have a generation all around us in need of hearing the truths from the bible. Take this Christmas season to share God's plan of salvation with those around you, and with those in your network. Be blessed as you spread His news.

- Rich

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