What We Need is The Light by Bryan Craig

I, like many of you, have watched the political turmoil in our country in the past few weeks.  There has been so much hatred, so much division, unnecessary death, confusion, chaos, distrust, insecurity.  No matter whether you consider yourself Red or Blue, I agree with one person who said we need to unite under Red, White, and Blue. 

I am a Christian, and I draw my encouragement, wisdom, guidance from the Bible and the Holy Spirit.  I read a couple of verses this morning out of Isaiah that could be speaking directly to this country:

“Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”  Isaiah 59:2

“Justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.  We grope for the wall like the blind; we grope like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among those in full vigor we are like dead men.  Isaiah 59:9-10

“Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter.  Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.  The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.”  Isaiah 59:14-15

Does this resonate with you like it does me?  It sounds pretty bleak. 

But there is hope.  I was recently watching the original Superman with Christopher Reeves, as Superman’s father is talking to him about why he is sending him to earth:

“They can be a great people; they wish to be.  They only lack the Light to show the way.  For this reason, above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you…my only son.”

Of course, in many ways, the Superman story is an allegory about Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the Light, He is the Savior, He shows the way.  God sent Him to earth because He is what this country needs more than anything.

Continuing on in Isaiah:

“He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him.  He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.” Isaiah 59:16-17

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.  And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”  Isaiah 60:1-3

And finally:

Jesus quoted this in the temple thousands of years after this was written and said it was fulfilled upon their hearing:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;  he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”  Isaiah 61:1-4

I’m thinking of an old Billy Graham message:

“Where is the hope? I meet millions who tell me they feel demoralized by the decay around us. Where is the hope? The hope that each of us has is not in who governs us or what laws are passed or what great things we do as a nation. Our hope is in the power of God working through the hearts of people. And that’s where our hope is in this country, and that’s where our hope is in life.”

So, I’m convinced, like Billy Graham and Isaiah, that our only hope in this country is to press into our faith.  For me that hope is, Jesus, the Light, who came into the world to save us, to show us the way.  He died for our sins to conquer the darkness and sent His Spirit to guide us into all truth and into a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

If you, too, are a Christian, join me in helping to share the Light.  Also, let’s get on our knees and pray for this country and for our leaders, no matter their party.   If you find that difficult to pray for some people you may dislike, let me give you a thought to help you.  If you picture a person when they were about 2 or 3 years old, before they were hardened and tainted by this world and were still innocent, it’s way easier to pray for them. 

There is still Hope, there is still Light, there is still Good to be found in this country.