Our Everlasting Light
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Isaiah 33:15-16
He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil, he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him, his water will be sure.
Isaiah 60:20-21
Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted,
the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.
At first reading, the verses from Chapter 33 might sound as if we are to ignore the situation it the Middle East, Cuba, Africa, along the Mexican border. One could almost interpret the verses to tell us that we are to turn a deaf ear, to look away, and to hide ourselves away from all the evil and wars and religious persecutions, from the murdering of others in the name of religion, and for the sake of power and greed. And that would be so easy to do—on so many levels, and for so many reasons! After all, the drama in my life some days is enough to send chills down one’s spine—so I won’t catalog them for you!
I try to keep politics out of my entries. This morning though, I’m wishing – praying – that those in power are also praying to their God. I ardently hope they are asking for wisdom and guidance, and restraint. I pray they are seeking God’s face, and not making decisions based upon party line, or political shrewdness. The world seems as if it is falling apart sometimes. Babies are dying, innocent men, women and children; brave soldiers defending their countries; reporters and aid workers risking their lives.
I can’t make it through the day, unless I give it over to God. And I can physically tell the difference in my body, on the days I don’t let Him have all my cares and worries – whether about my family, my friends, my church, or my world. I have to cling to the words from Chapter 60, just to live in this world! “Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.” Notice here LORD is in all caps. That means the one true, ultimate God.
I wonder what would happen if verses 20 and 21 were broadcast over the airwaves as an offering of hope to everyone touched by the terrible, tragic events of the world. I sincerely believe that when positive, life-affirming, God-filled thoughts are sent out into the world, the world become a better place. I guess if I had anything to offer today, it would be that each of us who believes in the Risen Christ, are tasked with spreading the message of his gift – whether in word, in prayer, in thought and in deed.
Somehow the trifles of my job, the stresses of my daily life, pale in comparison to everything going on out there in the world! We are to watch the news, and to be informed citizens of the world – so we know what to pray for and how. We need to be aware of who is in charge though. In the end, it will only be each of us before our God. And there will be an accounting. He will ask us if we made the world a better place by our lives. If we vote responsibility, and pray, I think that will be a good start. I hope so!
My prayer today is that you turn your eyes upon Jesus, trusting in the promise of His resurrection. And that you lift a prayer to your great and mighty God, the LORD who holds this world in His hand.
Mary
