Got a light?

by Ian Adnams

On Sunday our congregation’s worship service focused on the work of Lutheran Women’s Missionary League-Canada. We used the organizations convention theme “Shine like stars.”

Maybe the word ‘stars’ put my mind in an astrophysics mode, but during the sermon our pastor talked about Jesus, the light of the world, taking upon Himself all sin, and being completely cut off from God, His father.

I immediately thought of an astronomical construct—the ‘black hole.’ The theory is that the gravitational pull of a collapsing star is so great that it even sucks in light waves, therefore making it invisible or black.

To put it in the context of Jesus on the cross, for those agonizing hours God’s Son became the black hole for the world’s sin. Whatever light was there, it was unable to escape the darkness of humankind’s sin, including yours and mine. He suffered utter darkness so that we could live in the Light of God’s forgiveness.

But He didn’t stay in the darkness. The “big bang” of the resurrection brought the Light back to life. In that glorious moment, by unleashing His eternal power, God, the maker of heaven and earth, defeated death and brought to all who believe the hope of eternal life.

From black hole to radiant light for our sake!

Now we live as forgiven sinners and God’s children as we walk in the light of God. And while we are still here, He gives us the privilege of sharing His light – the Good News of the Gospel – in a world full of darkness as lights shining like stars in the night!

To quote a well-worn, but totally appropriate phrase: “That’s awesome!”

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