Desert Stream Christian Fellowship

This morning at our men’s prayer meeting, one of the gentlemen declared prophetically in prayer that, “Although increasing darkness covers the earth, the light of the gospel will result in an influx of people coming to Jesus.” It is true that the world has not in recent memory seen darker times. A casual flip through the TV channels or the newspaper will present you with enough evidence to confirm that assertion. Global economic woes, political instability in the Arab world and public protests in the streets of every major city in the western hemisphere, confirm that we are indeed experiencing troubling times on the earth.

The good news is that the scripture affirms, “Where sin abounds grace does much more abound”. In other words, where the impact of sin is most prevalent, the light of the grace of God shines more brightly.

In some respects the world today looks much like it did at the time when Jesus was born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem. Palestine at the time of the birth of our savior, was a land filled with political unrest, corruption and violence, silenced only by the strong arm of Rome’s military. Joseph and Mary, who were actually from Nazareth, found themselves homeless in Bethlehem, only because of a census ordered by Caesar. Every man was forced to return to the town of his ancestry in order to be counted. No mail in census forms or online surveys were available to our expectant couple, who made the trip despite Mary’s condition.

John, in his gospel, hails the arrival of Christ as, “the light (that) shines in the darkness” and the Simeon prophesied over the baby Jesus that he was, “A light to bring revelation to the gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

Interesting thing about light, the darker the atmosphere the brighter the light shines. The luminescence of my iPhone screen isn’t even noticeable in the daylight, but enter a pitch-black room and you can use it to light to your path.

Things may look pretty bleak as December rolls around this year, but be sure of this; the darkness only ensures that the light of Jesus in you shines more brightly.