REMOVING THE DARK SHADOW WITH THE CLARITY OF THE LIVING CHRIST

REMOVING THE DARK SHADOW WITH THE CLARITY OF THE LIVING CHRIST

Satan shook his ugly finger at God and perverted the hearts of God’s people. They began to see their creator as severe and unforgiving. They were sure He was constantly watching them. Looking to find fault, pass judgment, and delegate harsh punishment. But, as E.G. White puts it: “It was to remove this dark shadow, by revealing to the world the infinite love of God, that Jesus came to live among men.” Jesus said of himself: “He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18).

 

Love, mercy, and compassion were evidenced in every aspect of Jesus’ life. He took on mankind’s nature to see and relate to what every person needs and desires. The poorest and weakest were not afraid to approach him, and children responded to his love. He didn’t hold back on speaking God’s truth but always spoke it in love. Jesus exercised tact, kindness, and thoughtful attention when interacting with people. He was not afraid to denounce hypocrisy, unbelief, and sin, but tears were in his voice as he uttered scathing rebukes. Even when he raised his voice to cast out demons or commanded the storms to cower to his authority, he did it with love for the people.

 

Every soul was precious in Jesus’ eyes. His mission was to bring all people back together with their creator, to be in God’s family forever. Jesus saw that many people were damaged souls and was there to save them.

 

In everyday circumstances, we’re not smart enough to figure out the right thing to do every time. What we think is good may not be. What we think is bad may not be. We guess and hope we’re doing it right. But only God has perfect foresight and hindsight. The bravest thing we can do is abandon our self-constructed ideologies of what it takes to be a good person. Whether we are born-again Christians or not, we need to drop the idea that we alone can devise the standard of what it means to be good. The Lord of heaven, our creator, has already given the parameters.

 

We need to jump off the cliff of “ME” into the arms of HIM! When we know what the Bible says and have Jesus as our personal Lord, we access true standards of ethics for every circumstance.

 

When God got a bad reputation in the Old Testament times, He sent Jesus to be a man like us, to relate to us, to understand us, and be among us forever. “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matt. 1:23). He is the only Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6b), the only Lord of lords. “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for his is Lords of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Rev. 17:14). Jesus is the presence of love and the conduit of all God’s grace.

 

Isaiah 9:6a says: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder.” That’s the government of our souls! What a relief! Whenever I get stressed about money, I recall that I gave Jesus the government of my finances. He takes the stress away and gives me peace and wise instruction. Jesus is pure and genuine.

 

Going into this new year, let’s make an effort to recognize and allow Jesus into our everyday activities, setting the rules for our lives from this day forward with the written word and revelation. It will definitely be more exciting, versatile, loving, and satisfying than anything we can come up with on our own.

 

Even though we are now in the aftermath of Christmas, I want to share the lyrics of this beautiful hymn written in 1739. Read to the end and slowly. It’s packed! And it will bless you.

 

Love, Carolyn

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’ angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th’ incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

Come, Desire of nations, come,
fix in us thy humble home;
rise, the woman’s conquering Seed,
bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface;
stamp thine image in its place.
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in thy love.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”