A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"A New Day"
Do you find it intriguing that we refer to a day as morning to evening? Probably not, for culturally this is how a day is defined. Maybe this is why when we read the Creation Account in Genesis 1 we are caught by surprise when the account notes, it was the evening and the morning. It is even emphasized by its repetition throughout the account. Six times after each day we read, it was the evening and the morning.  The Hebrew calendar was set up this way including celebrating the Sabbath from sundown Friday to sunset Saturday.

We should not skip too quickly over this significant truth. No, I am not suggesting that we need to redefine our days to the evening and the morning. But, we should not neglect the beauty wrapped up in this repeated phrase. It does tell us something amazing about God – He comes into our night and brings the light of new day. God comes into our darkness and brings light.

John captures this wondrous reality in his New Testament writings magnificently drawing upon the double meaning of the words darkness and light. In his first epistle he proclaims that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.  (1 John 1:5) In the prologue of his gospel he declares: In [Jesus] was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. (John 1:4, 9) He continues in the third chapter quoting Jesus: This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” Jesus states succinctly in John 8; I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12)

Indeed light has come! Jesus comes into our darkness offering us light. Whether it is the darkness of sin or the darkness of the soul in pain, Jesus comes into our darkness bringing light and life. His light does not demand understanding. Rather it asks for acceptance; beckons us to walk in it and in fellowship with He who is light (1 John 1:7). The light not only exposes us and our plight, but reveals life, redemption, reconciliation, cleansing, healing.

You see in Christ it is the evening and the morning – a new day! It is not necessary for us to stumble around lost in the darkness. Look to and by faith embrace the Light, for whoever follows him will never walk in darkness, but have the light of life.

Keep Close to Jesus (the Light).
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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