“And God said, “Let there be light” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning — the first day.” (Genesis 1:3-5 NIV)
This week I’ve been beginning again the Bible – I prefer to read it cover to cover over the space of a few years. When I got to this part about day and night, I noticed for the first time ever that God didn’t call the night ‘good.’ Do you see it? The light was good and the darkness simply existed without feedback from the Almighty. It is the first thing in creation that God doesn’t label. It makes me think; darkness wasn’t ever a part of God’s good plan for us. It is simply an ingredient for free will. As humans, we have opportunity to choose between light and dark, goodness and evil, God and ourselves.
My devotional space faces east and it is amazing to rise each morning and watch the Lord knit together a new day. It is typically still inky black outside my window when I first open the scriptures, but pretty soon the eastern sky begins to lighten by degrees. The shadows gather in the corners until they will finally slink away entirely. The black of night fades away to blue and eventually brightens altogether as pink and orange and yellow pour forth. Eventually the sunrise overtakes the nightfall altogether.
The birds know what is happening. Long before the sky has altered in the least, the birds begin announcing the suns’s arrival. A cacophony of trills and chirps pronounce the featured guest “Morning is upon us!” The creatures of the night crawl back into whatever dark hole they’ve come from the and day begins again: each hour appointed with new mercies. Each person allotted fresh opportunity to begin again.
Let us receive the day as the gift it is. God blessed it in the very beginning when He called it “good.” The darkness, we deal with, but the day is grace unfurling again.
If you are sitting in the dark this morning, I hope to encourage you. I’ve been there, too, friend. Five years ago, I spent this very week in the ICU with my failing father as he fought for last breath. He went Home a few days later and the accompanying darkness reigned in my heart for a good long while. Yet, Jesus faithfully carried me through the night until the light began to break over my life again.
“The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:16 NIV)
At the start of His ministry, Jesus recited Isaiah’s words because He lived and died and rose again to fulfill them. He came to earth to turn off the dark for all who would receive Him. He alone splits the sky with hope and light and healing.
Be encouraged. It may be dark today, but dawn is coming. Let this morning’s sun scaling the eastern horizon stir up hope in your heart. What feels so impossible in your story this morning is already ancient history from the Lord’s perspective. He’s going to walk with you every step of the way and one day the light of Christ will fill every crack and crevice. The whole narrative will finally make sense as we sit in the full exposure of His presence; remade by mercy and reveling in love. Hang on , the Son rise is on the way.
“For there will be no more night They will not need the light of the lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:5 NIV)
Lord, thank You for attending to us in our darkness. Help us understand how You have come to turn off the dark. May the sunrise today remind us of the work You accomplished on the cross and the fullness of day forthcoming. We wait on You. Amen.