THE LIGHT AND THE GLORY
21st Dec 2016
At the end of the last 3 Tenors Concert in Bath, they sang the hymn. “It is well with my soul” and as the applause died down the sky exploded with gold and silver fireworks. The crowd left the park in awe, and one lady interviewed by a journalist said, “I cannot talk.” she was so overcome with emotion.
However, what happened on the night the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds far exceeded this, and left them afraid and in shock as they saw and experienced the light of the glory of God.
Our Father God is surrounded with light as with a garment. At the transfiguration Jesus’ “face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.” (Matthew 17:2) Paul tells of his Damascus Road experience when he was blinded with light “brighter than the midday sun”.
Recently, reading in Revelation I have been pondering on the ‘light’. In Revelation 21:22 we are told that, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”
Zechariah 14:7 & 9 says, “The Day is coming—the timing is God’s—when it will be continuous day. Every evening will be a fresh morning.....God will be king over all the earth, one God and only one. What a Day that will be!”
Revelation 22:4 in the Message says, “His servants will offer God service—worshiping, they’ll look on his face, their foreheads mirroring God. Never again will there be any night. No one will need lamplight or sunlight. The shining of God, the Master, is all the light anyone needs.”
One day all who believe and have the life of Jesus will experience this - so look forward. As well as remembering the visitation of the angelic host, rejoice that one day you will dwell in this glorious light and presence with Jesus.
The shepherds were awe struck on a hillside in Bethlehem, but soon the whole world will see His appearing and worship the only King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
