Not so long ago, a cousin of mine was caught in an elevator during a
power outage.
He told me about the sickening jolt of the car when
things stopped, and they were thrown into pitch blackness.
The
reaction of the seven folks caught in the elevator was predictable. They
all started talking, shouting for someone to push the buttons, to use
the emergency phone, to call the fire department. He said that everyone
began to move around to make sure they didn't touch anyone or get
touched.
Then, after a few minutes had passed, one of the
passengers remembered the tiny flashlight he carried on his keychain.
With the push of a button, a small, amber light filled the elevator
car.
Just as a little child relaxes when a night light is turned
on in his bedroom so, too, these adults, helped by the most
insignificant of LED lights, found their fears had disappeared with the
darkness. For the next 45 minutes, they laughed at their fate, shared
stories, and a little bit of history about themselves.
In our
earthly world that is the power of light.
When He walked among
us, Jesus said He was "the Light of the world" (see John 8:12).
In our world where illumination takes place with the flip of a switch,
we often forget the powerful impact and import of those divine words. We
forget just how dark things can be. Mainly, we forget that without the
Savior we were all condemned to live in perpetual darkness. Without the
forgiveness He has won for all of humanity, the blackness of our sin
would be and remain all-encompassing.
Even worse, that darkness
was damning.
It was damning, but no longer. That is because Jesus
came into this world to be our light.
He not only illuminates our
many transgressions and temptations, He also shows how the Lord -- in
His grace and through His sacrifice -- has taken away those sins. Now we
who are forgiven and freed from the clutches of sin, Satan and death are
given days, nights and an eternity where -- because of the Savior's
great sacrifice -- the dark can no longer surround us.
Because of
Jesus, our path is bright and beautiful.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord
Jesus, modern technology has given us light bulbs which will burn for
40,000 hours. That is a wonder of human technology for which I am
appreciative. But I am most thankful for Your light, which has dispelled
the darkness of humankind for 2,000 years. I rejoice that Your light
will burn for all eternity. In Your Name I give thanks. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved;
not to be duplicated without permission.
