Light of Life

Even though it is well over a month since I saw that spectacular light when I was out walking the dogs I still get the same intensity of feeling when I think about it. I am filled with a sense of peace but then start bubbling with an almost uncontrollable joy and feeling of excitement. 

I am beginning to think that God is trying to show me something as there have been a few occasions lately when 'light' has been the thing to stand out (or should I say, shine) at me. On each of these occasions I have again, been filled with the same wonder and excitement as I experienced back in November.

Over the last year the Pastor of the chapel I go to has been preaching from the book of Revelation working through the seven churches and, during December, he came to the last of the churches, Laodicea, with that tremendous verse - 3:20 "Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he will Me." He went on to tell us about a painting by William Holman Hunt that he used to go and see whenever he got the chance and would stand there for hours gazing at it. It depicts this very verse of Scripture, although it is often more usually associated with John 8:12 Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have the light of life". Our Pastor has decided that this verse will be our motto for the year so, as I am the person who composes our newsletter, I decided to find a copy of the painting to post above the verse of Scripture. I was totally blow away by the radiant light that seem to shine out from the page and that same inner calm fills me every time I look at it.

For some time before 'I saw the Light'  I had not felt particularly close to God and was beginning to question my own salvation. Was I good enough for Him, was I a true Christian, was I really saved? My prayer time was suffering and had become virtually non existent and I seemed to be going in a downward spiral. Then came the light.

This morning I nearly wept for joy during the sermon. Our Pastor read from Isaiah 42 and it was verse 3 which hit me, "A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice." It was as if God was telling me that as long as I had a flicker of faith left in me He would not let me go.

The final 'light' reference (for the moment) came in one of the songs we sang during tonight's service:

The splendour of the king

Clothed in majesty

Let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice

He wraps Himself in light

And darkness tries to hide

And trembles at His voice, and trembles at His voice.

The chorus really sums it all up - "How great is our God"!