At two degrees north of the Arctic Circle, in Inuvik, Canada, the sun
sets for the last time below the horizon in early December. After nearly
30 days of darkness, the return of the sun is celebrated around January
6th at the annual Inuvik Sunrise Festival, with food, dance, music, snow
carving, and winter activities.
"The darkness is
passing and the true light is already shining." (1 John 2:8b NIV)
While I was
watching a documentary about the Sunrise Festival, a thought-provoking
comparison popped into my mind. Great crowds of people were gathered
together with upraised arms. All eyes were glued to the sky. Some were
singing, while others were dancing, leaping, and cheering. They were all
waiting breathlessly, expectantly, joyously for the moment that they had
looked forward to for so long, the moment when the sun would return and
peek above the horizon. Soon the frigid winter would release its icy
grip, and the long darkness would be over. The sun would be back on its
throne and reigning once again.
It struck me, that in the Bible,
there is an amazing parallel to the return of Son of God.
"And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with
great (transcendent and overwhelming) power and [all His kingly] glory
(majesty and splendor)." (Luke 21:27 AMPC)
What a day of rejoicing that will
be for those who have committed their lives to Jesus Christ, Who came to
this earth to redeem mankind through the sacrifice of His life.
It is impossible to imagine how we will feel if we are privileged to be
part of the crowd standing there as we hear His voice calling us up.
"Then we, the living ones who remain [on the
earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected
dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through
the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!" (1
Thessalonians 4:17 AMPC)
Then, as we gather together with Jesus and His bride, the church, in
the heavenly dining hall for the marriage supper of the Lamb, our
feasting and rejoicing and singing and praising and thanksgiving will be
far beyond our wildest imaginations.
I realize that the
celebration of the return of the sun that I watched on the television
was a very important highlight for the Inuit people of the Arctic, yet
it pales into insignificance in light of the day of the return of the
Son of God.
None of the Inuit ever doubt that the sun will
return, because of their personal experience, so they watch with joyous
expectation. Similarly, we who have a personal experience with the Son
of God have no doubt that He will return, and it could be at any moment.
So we, too, watch with joyous expectation, and we say, "Even so, Lord
Jesus, come quickly."
Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray that the eyes of
many people who do not believe that the Son of God will return to this
earth, even though He promised that He would come back, may be opened.
Heavenly Father, help us to rise to Your challenge of making disciples
of all the nations. In Jesus' name, we ask. Amen.
Sharon Greer
Sandycove Acres, Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
Thanks to
PresbyCan Daily Devotional
