By Don Schatz

Create in Me

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“And God said, “Let there be Light,” and there was Light.”

Genesis 1:3. New International Version

Genesis 1:1-2 — “In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the ear was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep….”  Darkness.  This time of year there is more darkness in a given day than there is light.  In the primordial darkness of Genesis 1, a voice rang out.  God’s voice.  “Let there be Light.”  And there was Light.  Light in the dark.  Light shining in the darkness.  Light chasing darkness into the night, where it belongs, as God intended (see verses 4-5).

The Apostle John begins his Gospel with creation language.  “In the beginning was the Word.  The Word was with God.  The Word was God…In him was life and that life was the light of humankind.”  The Light shines in the darkness.  The darkness of sin, the darkness of human depravity, the darkness of fear, despair and death.  Light.  Light shining.  Christ.  Christ shining.  Christ the Word, that which spoke creation into being in the first place.  That Word of God which spoke into the palpable darkness of proto-creation.  “Let there be Light.”  And there was Light.

This time of year, we behold lots of lights.  Especially colored lights.  Even colored lights decorating sailboats in a marina.  They shine boldly, dispelling the darkness in their small, multi-hued way.  Joseph’s coat of many colors coming alive and dancing before our eyes.  Unlike that coat, the Light shines in the darkness and we behold it.

In God’s IMAX, technicolor creation, he has spoken Light into our hearts and souls.  The Light of Christ does dispel our darkness.  The darkness of sin, the darkness of human depravity, the darkness of fear, despair and death.  Come to the Light.  Come into the Light.  Come into forgiveness.  Come into the warm, loving embrace of the Lord.  Come into hope.  Come into joy and elation.  Come into Life.  You do not have to leave, stepping back into the shadow, back into darkness.  God speaks life and light in you in and through Christ Jesus.  Now, you are God’s Light in the Darkness, shining with the bright Light of Christ.  How you shine!

Create in Me the Light of your Christ, O God.  Amen.

Copyright, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado