Lights, Light, and More Light

Me with my "Amys"--AmyRose Castillo and Amy Lawrence

Light--maybe a theme for the past 24 hours? I enjoyed a quick but very refreshing visit with Northland's vocal ensemble, the Northern Lights, yesterday. They did another Spring Tour as I had done with them last year, and I was able to drive to Glen Burnie, MD, see their presentation at Calvary Baptist Academy, and then spend a few hours with them before they got on the road again. I thank the Lord for them, for their ministry, and for my time of encouragement.
This morning, I came across a challenging quotation by J.B. Stoney in None But the Hungry Heart dealing with a different perspective of Light.
"The true value of anything is known only when it is wanted. For this reason bright days must be succeeded by dark ones. In the dreary and desolate hour to nature, we begin to know the value of the truth communicated to us in the bright day. The learning is at one time, and the proving at another. In fact, we ought to be prepared for the dark hour; so that, though it be dark, there is something so blessed, so suited, pouring its comfort and sustenance on our souls, that, after all, the dark and dreary hour becomes a more really festive time to the heart, because of the virtues of the truth now made know, than the time of its reception, which was so happy and exhilarating."
Light is also a key theme in I John. Describing God as "Light" displays Him as the Revealer of His holiness. It also points to Him as Exposer and Condemner of sin. But "if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another." (1:7) This is the truth that amazes me. "Light" is the connection between sinful man and a holy God. Because God is light (and therefore also is Christ) and Christ dwells in us, we are allowed fellowship with the Father. Only by the Cross has this been made possible. A time of darkness followed by the greatest light and joy we could ever and will ever experience...