FROM DARKNESS TO DAWN

"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." -Matthew 28:6-7

“How dark does it have to get before the night is over?” The question of a small child may seem without importance when one is struggling through a sleepless night. But with moral and spiritual darkness enveloping the night of our age we cannot help but speculate on the present course.

We would seem pointless to merely observe the many indications that such a night has fallen. Too often and too easily we decry what is happening to our nation with its loss of values and absence of leadership. We’re too negative; some will say while they can’t disagree with the prevailing circumstances that affects us all. Indeed, we quickly turn to more positive thoughts giving us hope that the night will soon pass. Are we any different than the unsure child seeking answers and confidence from a loving parent?

Enough with the bailouts and the president’s and congress’s health plan which many feel will lead us further into socialism and a national debt we can’t afford. Enough with questionable political practices behind closed doors of our government. Enough with alarm over encroaching gay rights activities, liberal bias in the media and a multitude of other disturbing trends in our society. “Enough!” we say. Enough! Let us look on the bright side. Let us think positive thoughts. Let us believe things will get better if we just do our job and don’t let our surroundings get us down. Isn’t this how we convince ourselves that the night is almost over—that dawn is almost here?

There are, unquestionably, many streaks of improvised light in this surrounding darkness. In our churches and Christian schools, in our homes and families, even in our jobs and neighborhoods, good people do good things and we enjoy many happy and encouraging moments that give us a degree of happiness and hope for a brighter tomorrow. There are certainly enough opportunities to concentrate our attention on flickering points of light in our lives instead of the outside blackness. And these are not inconsequential. They are not to be disregarded, especially where we see evidence of spiritual and moral influence and where Bible based Christianity still prevails in our hopes and in our dreams.

But there is still a better way to quiet the fear that gnaws against us—a better answer for the hope that lies within our hearts and gives us confidence of a new day. That is the guarantee of resurrection that our Lord Jesus Christ has given us. The hours and days immediately before the dawn of Easter morning were as dark as it can get on the earth. Jesus who brought new light into the world, a light that enlightens any soul from within, was extinguished on the cross. The forces of darkness had overtaken him in his cruel death. Gone was the One on whom anyone could look and be healed of all sickness and disease that inflicts darkness on our bodies, minds and souls. Gone was the life Who was the light of men. It seemed that darkness would prevail perpetually, that there would be no dawn, and that our greatest fear would be realized in the death and entombment of the Christ sent by God to help us.

We know that wasn’t the end, or we would not be here 2000 years later continuing our hope in the Creator’s purpose. The miracle of Jesus’ resurrection foretells the miracle awaiting us all. Our hope for a new tomorrow does not rest on the politicians, nor does it rest in our own feeble efforts at keeping the lights we depend on in our own worlds around us glowing. The dawn we truly await is one of enduring brightness which will remove all fear that night could ever again fall. This is not a desperate hallucination, as some would charge. It is not hope against hope, but it is based on concrete knowledge, concrete facts and concrete revelation which God has poured out into our hearts and minds.

Christ is Risen!!! We have cause for celebration of the Day to come prefigured for us by the Day the tomb was found empty and the risen Jesus appeared to his followers. This is the assurance we need to carry on through the night, no matter how dark it gets. For the reality is, it will most likely get darker before the dawn. But Jesus assures us, “Do not be afraid.” “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” “Go therefore and make disciples ...” The dawn is coming. Look up, for you know not when your redemption comes; but He is coming.
Amen.