An Epiphany Devotion

Have you ever imagined living without light? Maybe this thought occurred to you as you fumbled around in the pitch blackness of a closet? Perhaps you had this fear-filled thought when you were a child trying to fall asleep in a very dark room.
In reality, though, a life without light is more than a scary childhood thought or a few stumbling moments in a closet. Life without light – well, that would be DEATH. It’s simple biology (the study of living things). To study life IS to study light. In fact, God’s six-day creation began with the giving of light… “and it was good” (Genesis 1:2).
The connection between life and light is not just good biology, though. It’s also good Christology (the study of the Christ). Life is who and what the Christ (the promised One) of God is. And the Christ’s life is the very light from which all mankind also draws its life. The gift of God to all sin-draped humanity is eternal life and that life is found only in Jesus – the Promised One of God. Christ is Light and he is Life – and He is these things for you and for your salvation and for all who sit in darkness.
St. John 1:1-5 (ESV): In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Hymn ELH 198:1, 3
“O Christ, Our True and Only Light”
O Christ, our true and only Light,
Enlighten those who sit in night;
Let those afar now hear Thy voice
And in Thy fold with us rejoice.
O gently call those gone astray
That they may find the saving way!
Let ev’ry conscience sore oppressed
In Thee find peace and heav’nly rest.
Prayer
Jesus, my Savior, You bring life and true light to a darkened world. Let all who do not know You hear Your Word and believe.  Amen.
Reverend Kyle Madson
Editor, The Lutheran Sentinel
Norseland Lutheran Church
St. Peter, MN
Norwegian Grove Lutheran Church
Gaylord, MN