The Light Has Come!

In the Fall of 1993, on a crisp October evening, I had an experience that I will never forget. I was a freshman at Canadian Bible College and one evening, 9 or 10 of us headed out towards Lumsden in search of an old, country church.

St. Nicholas Church is the oldest
remaining church in Saskatchewan,
and it’s also the most accessible; when we got there the doors were unlocked and we were able to go in and look around; there was seating for maybe 30. But I don’t want to focus my story on the church building, that’s why we went, but that’s not what made the evening memorable. That night we witnessed a stunning display of light.

I’m a B.C. boy, born and raised; more specifically, I’m a Lower Mainlander—I know mountains, ocean, rain, and the occasional spot of sun. But I didn’t know skies until I lived in Saskatchewan, and I didn’t know lights until that evening in Lumsden.

We had brought blankets with us, and a few baskets of food. We spread the blankets out in the middle of the field and we began to enjoy the food, when all of a sudden the sky began to pulsate with light. I had never seen Northern Lights before, and while I knew what they were, no words could describe what I saw and felt.

We laid back on the blankets, savouring the magnificence of these lights, and as I stared up in wonder, I thought about God. The Apostle John opens his Gospel with the following description of Christ: “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

At this time of year, stores, streets, trees, and homes are decorated with lights; each one bears witness to the one True Light who can, has, and is dispelling darkness. As we follow Jesus, we have the light of life—light by which we see God, ourselves, and the world rightly.

Isaiah 60:19 speaks about a day that is coming when oppression, brokenness, and sin will be no more. Isaiah writes, that on that day “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” The reality of which Isaiah spoke has already been inaugurated by Jesus, and will be fully realized when He returns.

In this Advent season, may God give you – and your church – a greater experience of Christ’s light which reveals, attracts, and purifies. And may His light shine through you, drawing attention to the goodness of our Father.

Grace and peace to you,

Mark