The Sun of Righteousness

“…to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:77-79). 

The darkest time of night is right before dawn when the sun is getting ready to break out. It’s in the darkest hours of life that we begin to lose hope of ever seeing a new day or a new beginning. It’s cold, lonely, and the Presence of God seems like a

distant memory. This is what it was like over the earth before Jesus arrived. The nation of Israel had not heard the voice of God for nearly 400 years. They were under the grip of the cruel leadership of Rome. The Presence of God was a distant memory, and any hope of deliverance waned.  

It was in this darkest hour that God made His announcement. 

“The rising Sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” 

The season of Christ’s coming is celebrated in the dead of winter because it is supposed to remind us of the dark, cold, lifeless, lonely, hopeless state of the world and our hearts UNLESS Christ comes. We are benefitted by experiencing the darkness of our hearts, because in that ache, we might be inclined to hope for something more… to HOPE there is a GOD who answers those who cry out for His help… to HOPE for some intervention greater than our own schemes. Unless we feel the pain of His absence, we won’t long for His presence.  

He arrived in the darkest moment of human history, and He still loves to arrive in the darkest moment of our lives. His favorite place to arrive is in the empty, cold, lifeless ache of a heart “to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death…”  

“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture” (Malachi 4:2). 

Never underestimate the power of calling on the name of Jesus. He is the Rising Sun breaking through the darkest part of the night.  

Take a moment today and acknowledge the ache in your heart. Don’t move on.

Don’t get busy with life or distract yourself by scrolling on social media. Put your heart before Him. Let the tears fall. Wait on Him in the darkness. Trust. HE WILL COME. It’s in moments of deep surrender that we open our heart for Him to arrive, and when He arrives, you will feel that ray of hope guiding your feet into the path of peace.  

“Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him.  

As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth” (Hosea 6:3).