Friday, September 19, 2008

Goodnight Moon, Hello Sun - Part 1

"And there was evening and there was morning, the first day... Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And God created the two lights great lights - the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day...

As I've been contemplating the theme of light and dark in the book of John, several thoughts have assaulted my knowledge of Christ. Most notably is this - that Jesus, the Messiah, is the light. Let it sink in. Read it slow. Bathe in this truth as you would bathe in the rays of the sun of summer. 

Andrew Murray writes in The True Vine that, 
"All earthly things are the shadows of heavenly realities - the expression, in created, visible forms, of the invisible glory of God. The life and the truth are in heaven; on earth we have figures and shadows of the heavenly truths.
When Jesus says: "I am the true vine," He tells us that all the vines on earth are pictures of Himself. He is the divine reality, of which they are the created expression. They all point to Him, and preach Him, and reveal Him. If you would know Jesus, study the vine."

Murray's Vine succinctly provides the form for my sentiments concerning the Sun. To borrow from Murray, when Jesus says: "I am the light of the world," He tells us that light, and it's physical source the sun, is a picture of Himself. He is the divine reality, of which the sun is the created expression. The sun points to Him, preaches Him, and reveals Him. If you would know Jesus, study the light and the sun. These physical expressions will not give a complete understanding of Christ, but they will, in their own specific ways, testify uniquely to his nature and character.

This week I am amazed at the Messiah, the light and life of men. He has come onto the scene of humanity with a light that pierces the deepest darkness and a life that raises the dead from the grave. 

There is more I want to share, but I am not eloquent enough to tie each of the threads together. For now, pick a day this week when you can arrange your schedule and go someplace to see the sunrise. Get there an hour before that ball of fire rises so that you experience the darkness before the dawn. Immerse yourself in the glory of God's creation as you ponder Christ as the true light. 

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