John 1 is one of my favorite Scriptures. It is very simplistic as it talks about creation and the birth of our Savior. John tells us how Christ was there at the beginning and eventually came to earth to dwell with us!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-5, 14
I love the way John talks about light!
As a child I hated the dark and wanted a nightlight in my room. Now as an adult, I notice that when it is gloomy outside, I tend to feel depressed. I also notice that when I sin, I prefer it to be in the darkness. In the dark, it is less likely for my sin to be exposed. While in the light, my sin is visible and brings guilt and shame.
After Darkness, Light
In my recent daily devotional from Crossway, Pastor Paul Tripp taught me a new Latin Phrase, post tenebras lux which means “after darkness, light.”
As I thought on this phrase, my mind pondered darkness and light and how they are displayed throughout the Scriptures. First, I thought about the children of Israel and how they must have longed for the Light over 2000 years ago. Yet, they missed it.
Then, there’s the familiar story so many of us read, particularly around Christmas.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
Luke 2:8-9
Here, we see light being displayed, overcoming darkness as the “glory of the Lord shone around” the shepherds. Sitting in darkness, light filled them with fear! Yet light was exactly what they needed. The one true Light – Jesus, a deliverer, “after darkness, light!”
Light Over Darkness
I remember an example of darkness verses light that was given to me many years ago. It was explained that when there is an absence of light, it is dark. Nothing can be done to make it darker. However, if even a tiny amount of light is added, it overcomes the darkness. Darkness cannot be made darker by the addition of more darkness, but only by removing the light. On the other hand, darkness can be made brighter by adding a little light. Each time a little light is added, it becomes brighter.
It is the same with us. Before Christ enters our life, we are in darkness. After Christ enters, we are no longer in that darkness.
It has been a very contentious time in our country. We have just gone through one of the most divisive periods in our lifetime. It seems that, like the Israelites and the shepherds, we are in darkness. But we must not lose hope for we have the Light – a Light that we can shine.
We have God’s promise that He will return and make all things right. Advent is a time for us to prepare for His return. Let us prepare our hearts and be ready.
“Post tenebras lux!“
