Shine

Tragedy has struck our nation again! Anger, chaos and disunity have followed.  We ask, "Can the darkness get any darker?"  We must answer "Yes."  It is part of what is expected during end times.  Jesus warned His disciples about the end of the age.  "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars...Nation will arise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be famines and earthquakes in various places...You will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase in wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved, and this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:6-14)
 
The love of many has grown cold and deception is rampant.  There is a demonic spirit working in our midst that has the power to intimate and control.  Violence and lack of compassion for others is at the forefront.  It seems the darkness is getting darker.  Can we have any encouragement amid this situation?  Again, we can answer "Yes!"  Everyone who has confessed Jesus as Savior has the light of Christ within.  "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)
 
Let us remember, as the dark gets darker our lights shine brighter.  When I recently went to see fireworks over the Delaware River at Lambertville, NJ, the people shooting them into the sky waited until 9:45 pm to begin setting them off.  The light of the fireworks is most effective in the darkest sky.  Likewise, stars in the sky at a location where there is no light pollution seem extremely bright.  It is the night season that reveals the stars.
 
Proverbs 13:9 says, "The light of the righteous shines brightly..."  This is our greatest hour of opportunity, dear ones.  God placed His light within us so that we can dispel the darkness and shine His love to many.  Daniel encourages us with his words:  "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." (Daniel 12:3)
 
My dear friends Heather Keller and Kathy Ulrich, worship leaders at the Washington Crossing United Methodist Church, wrote a beautiful song that seems perfect for this time in our lives.  Here is the chorus to "Shine In:" 
 
"Shine in, Oh Lord, to the darkest place.  Shine in, Oh Lord, on us.  Shine in, Oh Lord, make us bright and new, with Your redeeming grace, with Your redeeming grace."