From Light to Darkness
As I mentioned
last week, Easter is my favorite holiday. I love church on Easter on Sunday,
but I also enjoy the other services associated with Holy Week. Different
denominations do different things, such as a Passover service or even a
foot-washing service, but I think it is so cool to see the creativity and
beauty that accompany Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services.
At the church I
attend, they are having a Tenebrae service on Friday evening. Tenebrae is the Latin word for
“darkness” or “shadows.” In this service, they gradually diminish light through
the extinguishing of candles to mark Jesus’ journey from Palm Sunday to his death
and burial. Often times, you exit this service in silence and darkness.
The picture presented here is such a great visual representation of what the
world experienced at Christ’s death.
This journey from light in to darkness is also the opposite
of what we normally experience and talk about as followers of Christ. Our goal
as Christians is to leave the darkness, and walk in the light. Once we have
made that decision to leave the dark, we want to bring others, and help them
see and experience that light that is found in Christ, as well.
In reality, though, if we are being really honest with ourselves,
I think that all of us have experienced times when we have walked in the dark rather
than the light. In our heads, we know that the light brings freedom, and love,
and peace, and joy, but sometimes we are pulled to the dark anyway. We allow
ourselves to be consumed by our desires, and what we want, and our love of self
pulls us away from the light.
And, at first anyway, it’s not noticeable. Just as you don’t
realize the sun is setting until you look up and it’s totally dark, we don’t
always realize that we’re not walking in the light. But, over time, we may inch
our way over until we notice that it’s hard to see, and that our lives look a
lot more like what we want, and maybe less like what God wants.
The joy in this, however, is that we can make our way back.
Just as the dark surrenders to the light each morning, we can surrender to
Christ new each day. Lamentations 3 reminds us, “The steadfast
love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Thank God that He is faithful and forgiving!
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Thank God that He is faithful and forgiving!
If you are carrying a burden of guilt today, I
ask you to give that over to Him. Christ loves you and has forgiven you—walk in
the light this Easter season, and live as a person experiencing the power of
the resurrection and victory over sin!
** Next week will begin a new study. We will be
looking at Anne Lamott’s Help Thanks Wow
. You can pick up a copy here if you’d like to read along with us! (The book is
not necessary to follow along with the devotionals, however.)
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