The Light in the Dark

the people living in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death

a light has dawned.

Isaiah 9:2 & Matthew 4:16

Two things stand out in this verse. First, it accurately describes the world we live in. Ours is a dark world filled with pain and difficulty and hardship. It's a world of confusion and deception. It's a world in which we all live constantly under the shadow of death. 

But if you keep reading, the second half of this verse tells us where to find comfort. When it's dark, you look to the light. Even in the midst of all the darkness of this world, there is a light. That light is Jesus! Jesus alone stands in stark contrast to the darkness of the world around us. He alone is truly different.

His life on earth sets an example for us and reveals how we ought to live. His death paid the penalty for our sins and shows that forgiveness is found only in Him. And His resurrection lights the way to eternal life. All of this taken together (His life, death and resurrection) lights the way to the great Christian hope of salvation. Jesus is that way. Anyone who repents of their sins, places their faith in Him as God's perfect sacrifice for their sins, and confesses Him as Lord of their life will be saved. 

And those who are saved no longer live in fear of the shadow of death. And we no longer stumble along in the darkness of this world. We have the Light. If you have the light, then the way you conduct yourself and walk through this world ought to reflect that.