November 30, 2021 – Click here to listen
I don’t know why but it is great to see the sunshine. Walt Whitman once wrote, “Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you”. This reminds me of Psalms 23 – Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me . . . This verse has always appealed to me and should remove all fear of death for all of us. Think about a shadow for a moment. It is nothing more than a silly black image that light obliterates whenever it makes contact.
I imagine when I die, I will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but I will keep my eyes focused on the light of Jesus ahead of me with outstretched arms awaiting my arrival. His glorious light will make shadows flee into oblivion forever. Did you know that there are no dark shadows nor night in heaven? It will be brilliantly illuminated by God’s Holy presence 24/7. I believe Psalm 23 to be a vivid comforting metaphor from our Savior that reassures us that death and the dreaded valley in which it resides will not be present in heaven. It is a one-time event that was destroyed by Christ’s victory on Calvary.
While still residing on this planet we must remind ourselves that we will see dark raging storms followed by the sun peeking through and then appearing in all its glory. This morning I saw the sun rising . . .
. . . and when it appeared the night made like Casper the ghost and disappeared. It was as though God was telling me, “Hey Bob, if you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm”.
If you are experiencing the storms of life right now, take heart, the sun will peek back through like the rising sun growing ever more brilliant until its warmth puts a smile back on your face. Just remember that he who enjoys the brightness of sunshine must forsake the “coolness” of the shadow and come out of it . . . Do your part and listen to His WORD and obey God’s commands.
John 1:1
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 anything 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.