Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you and
his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Isaiah 60:1-3
I heard someone say there’s subtle persecution among Christians today in New Zealand.
Marriage is threatened by the possible passage of the gay marriage bill.
Teenage binge drinking has become a problem, and drunken driving arrests have become common.
Following the UK and US trends, the cloud of secularism has slowly engulfed New Zealand society. Some leaders have professed God to be a myth, and others even stated openly their unbelief.
Is there indeed an ebbing of the Christian faith?
In response to the ‘darkness’ that appears to be clouding New Zealand, Pastor John McMullan shared Isaiah 60:1-3.
He reflected that darkness might seem immense, but it creates a vacuum in man’s heart, which leads him or her to search for and find the Light of God.
Indeed, atheists may bully believers and sow hatred and mockery against the Great Living God, but they will never triumph because the light of God in Jesus Christ will never be snuffed out.
Time and again, many powerful leaders tried to cut God, but they all have failed.
The Gospel of Christ has been alive and active since the Holy Spirit came to the apostles on that memorable Pentecost.
As God created man to see and feel, it won’t be a wonder when “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” as darkness tries to envelop the earth.
Indeed, “darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples”, but we see the glory of God in Jesus Christ rising and shining always and forever.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jade Mark Jarbadan
Darkness only engulfs when there is no light present. This verse therefore comes to fore: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Let us remember that the ‘light’ that must shine is Jesus Christ and not our good works. It’s only when we let the light (Jesus) shine that our good works are seen.
Darkness only engulfs when there is no light present. This verse therefore comes to fore: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Let us remember that the ‘light’ that must shine is Jesus Christ and not our good works. It’s only when we let the light (Jesus) shine that our good works are seen.