Author’s Note: Advent is a four-week season before Christmas that anticipates Jesus Christ’s arrival. Advent is rarely mentioned in my faith tradition, but it was common growing up in my family. Biblical scholarship disagrees with the timing of Christmas and Jesus’ birth. That said, we’ll still take a four-week journey together to examine the meaning of the First and Second Advent in our lives. Here we go . . .
Can I let you in on a secret? Please, don’t tell anyone. I’m not a big fan of the dark. There, I said it.
I remember the first time I went into a cave as a child. Lights were strategically placed to illuminate the cave’s path and beauty. But as many cave guides will do, he told us to stand still as he turned off all the lights. No big deal, right? I was with my parents. But in a moment, panic began to grip me as I realized I couldn’t even see my hand an inch from my nose.
Earth has a dark history, too. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters.” Genesis 1:1-2 NLT
God saw a problem and worked to solve it. “Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. And God saw that the light was good.” Genesis 1:3-4 NLT
Our world is still covered in darkness, though. You know it. You’ve experienced it. “Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth.” Isaiah 60:2a NLT
Adam. Eve. Cain. Tower of Babel. The Flood. As the Biblical narrative races on, we see an endless trail of darkness and dark people. Our friend John spells it out plainly when he says, “People loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.” John 3:19 NLT
Thank goodness I don’t have that problem, right? Not so fast. “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23 NLT
And so there I stood. Surrounded in claustrophobic darkness. Searching for light. Desperately needing the peace that even a spark would give. Sensing our need, the tour guide lit one small bulb and I knew that all would be well again.
Many years ago, our world was especially dark. A group of really sharp guys from out east were looking for the light that most had forgotten. Their search was rewarded with a small light in the dark of night. They followed that light.
What they discovered in that small house was good news that would bring great joy to our world. A Heaven-sent Baby slipped into our world one dark Bethlehem night. Few knew that the Light of our world had arrived.
“I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 NLT
Here’s a proven fact. It’s no secret. Follow the Light, and you’ll never fear the dark again.