Today's Mental Image:
Mining for Gems
MINING THE PROPHETS
This is the first Sunday of Advent. Yes, I admit - I love Advent. Not that I don't love Christmas, though perhaps now days I don't. But I love Advent - the season before celebrating the birth of Christ
when we Celebrate Grace.
I love Advent because it is a time to Mine the Prophets and celebrate the richness of grace, the gems of love, mercy, correction, rebuke, salvation, and grace we find therein.
Paul says, "These things were written These things happened as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come."
What an amazing statement. Traditionally, we mine the prophets for prophecies about Christ, prophecies fulfilled in Christ. And that is wonderful! But Paul, who used these scriptures to speak of Christ, also writes these things are left to us as examples for those of us enjoying the fulfillment of the ages. These these have been left to us as warning to rebuke and correct, yes, but, I believe, even more so, as helps for us in our time of need.
We live in a world of darkness. Sin and darkness swallow us daily. Even in the church the cries of God's people reach heavenward, "Save us Lord from this dark hour!" But, O what encouragement! For one of the rubies of the Prophets says, "A people who walk in darkness [us], have seen a great light!" When WE cry out, "Justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows." God moves! The Holy Spirit illuminates! And in the midst of this valley of shadows and sorrow, WE - a people walking in darkess - again see our Great Light. And on us who dwell in endless gloom, - A Light Has Shown!
[webmaster: mining Isaiah 9:2; 59:9]
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