Bishop’s Letter for Memorial Day Observance 31 May 2020, Anno Domini (in the 245th year of our Declaration of Independence)

   

THE YOUNG PATRIOT

 

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REATER love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  (John 15:13)

 

When I was growing up I knew a lad who was a little strange in his outlook on God, Country and Flag. His name was Kenneth. His convoluted ideas on patriotism would certainly be out of place in today's school of one-worldism and political compromise. Though he was 4 years my junior, we used to play together. It was always the 'good guys against the bad guys' with Kenneth.

 

Kenneth learned the pledge of allegiance earlier than most kids. To him, there was practically no visible line between God and Country. He believed what he had learned from his history textbooks - that America was founded by Godly men on Biblical principles; therefore, God must be the true Sovereign of America. When it came to Old Glory, Kenneth was simply a fanatic for his time.

 

Kenneth would listen to stories my father told of his exploits during the Second World War and marvel at the heroism of the American soldier at arms. He dreamed of becoming one of those heroes, but worried that his chronic bronchitis would prohibit his ever serving on active duty with the Army.

 

When a senior in high school, Kenneth appealed to his dad to consent for him to join the US Army. Since Ken was only seventeen, parental consent was required. His father refused fearing that his son would be sent to the Vietnam War. So, Ken conceived a brilliant idea: he would get his father to consent to his joining the National Guard. His father, feeling that the Guard would be a safe assignment, agreed to sign. After joining the Guard, Ken immediately volunteered for active military duty with the Army. 

 

After basic and advanced training, Kenneth was assigned to the 1^st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) and sent to Vietnam. At last, he would be able to gallantly serve his country as a red-bloodied American patriot. He was excited at the prospect of bringing the fruits of liberty to a people whose culture and values were alien to his thinking. He truly believed his going to Vietnam would make a difference in the lives of the men, women and children who had endured savage tyranny under a host of despotic rulers and ideologies. This was the fulfillment of his life's dream.

 

After his posting to the Republic of Vietnam, Ken's letters arrived on a regular basis. They were like Situation Reports of his daily experiences in jungle warfare and the plight of the people. His heart was burdened for the people of Vietnam. He felt that we should have treated them better and with greater respect.

 

Finally, his letters began to sound more pessimistic. At the time, I was in military flight school in Alabama. Kenneth wrote and pleaded for me not to come to Vietnam. He said the fatality rate among aviators was extremely high. Nine months passed and Kenneth was looking forward to coming home. His letters became hopeful and cheerful. He was planning to marry a childhood sweetheart who, unknown to Ken, had already found another fellow. His last letter was dated 14 February (Valentine's Day). He restated his optimism about coming home soon.

 

Kenneth did arrive home to Dalton, Georgia on the 21^st of February of 1967. The flag for which he had fought and died draped his casket. He was given a military funeral. It seemed a bit out of place to hear the sweet words to the children's hymn, Jesus Loves Me this I know, being played in the presence of a military honor guard. But this would not have been a contrast to Kenneth. He left this earth as he had lived, loving his country and his flag. He was nineteen years old when he came home.

 

Kenneth is just one of more than 50,000 young men who gave their lives for freedom for a people whom they had not previously known. That is the glory of the American Spirit - to be concerned for the freedom of others. I still miss Kenneth. I can almost hear here his youthful voice quoting the Pledge, or calling cadence in our childhood army. He was my little brother.

 

It would be most appropriate this lovely Memorial Day to remember reverently all those heroes who gave their lives in all our many wars that we might enjoy the fruits of freedom beneath the canopy of Stars and Stripes which has ever been our Ensign.

 

The Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide Communion

Jerry L. Ogles, DD, Presiding Bishop

Master Aviator, US Army

Dew of Heaven – 28 May 2021, Anno Domini

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HESE are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. 6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.               (Gen 2:4-6)

 

God can stop the dew from falling, as in Haggai 1:10 - Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit -  by sending a famine of water just as the Holy Spirit may be withdrawn by a famine of reading the Word of the Lord. Dew is formed from moisture in the air which cools at night and condenses into pure drops of water to moisten the green plants, but when the air is devoid of water, the dew will not form. Man, devoid of the Water of Life will not know the Spirit.

 

God sends famine as a result of disobedience. In the last verse of the Book of Judges 21:25, we read: In those days there was no king (Jesus) in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

 

Disobedient people do not obey God's Law, but do that which they want to do. When men behave so, God sends famine. See the first verse of the very next Book (the Book of Ruth): Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was famine in the land.

 

The Dew of Heaven represents comfort which the Holy Spirit gives to us after the heat of the long day and night of our striving. The Word of God which comes to us in our moments of rest and ease is that 'Dew of Heaven'.

 

The Dew of Heaven is God's Word coming to us, but not in the form of formal preaching and study. It is His Word which has been planted in our hearts and naturally distills in our quiet moments to bear fruit and life.

 

When the fever of life draws to a close, the still and loving voice of God comforts our souls through the agency of the Holy Spirit and re-assures us of His nearness even in physical sleep or the sleep of death.

 

Let us examine the Dew of Heaven in five particulars:

 

1.     Dew forms quietly and without fanfare. Its forming is invisible to the observer. The evidence thereof is discovered with the coming Light! The effectual working of the Holy Spirit likewise is invisible to our observance. We do feel the Grace and effect of God's Word, but its working in our hearts is silent and invisible.

 

The Dew of Heaven dampens our visage imperceptibly, gradually by degrees, yet the Light will reveal its presence.

 

2.     Upon some converts, the Word of God storms and Rains; but in others, known only to the mind of God, it comes gently, silently and sweetly - as the Dew.

 

3.     Dew comes as a life-giving relief to herbs and plants which have withered throughout the day in the heat of the Sun. It enlivens these plants and its life-water soaks into their beings and into their roots. It makes them green again with vibrant light. So does God's Word, planted deep in the roots of our hearts, lift our visage and our unbecoming stoop. We wither in the heat of daily battle, but comes the Night and the invigorating Dew of God's Word. Christ is that Bread which came down from Heaven, as the Dew, in the form of Manna. He is now the Bread and Dew of every committed Christian (Gospel of St. John 6:48). Read in Hosea 14:5 - I will be as the Dew unto Israel, and He shall grow as the Lilly.

 

4.     Dew is distilled without our means of preventing it. No one can cancel its falling. Even the ruthless dictators in China, Vietnam and the Sudan cannot prevent the distillation of God's Word in the hearts of His people. My Word shall not return unto me void, it shall accomplish that for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11).

 

5.     Just as God began His Creation in Darkness, Dew usually falls during the night. The Word of God comes upon men's hearts during the night of this world; however, in the perfect day, this Dew will not fall - no more preaching, nor means of grace will then be afforded sinners, neither will saints have need of it. For when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.  (1 Corinthians 13:10)

           

The Word of God comes not only in the form of Dew, but also as Rain upon a dry, parched ground. It may come gently as Dew, or it may come in fierce anger and torrents as characterized by the Thunder of Heaven.

The Beloved Captain – 28 May 2021, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)

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ND it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?  14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?  15 And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.   (Josh 5:13-15)

 

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HEN said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  (Matt 16:24)

 

            A number of characteristics define a good and responsible leader. The considerate care of subordinates is one which was practiced in the officer corps when I was a young officer. It was customary for an officer or an NCO to refuse to eat until his soldiers were fed. I hope that commendable practice is still current in the military forces today, but it probably is not.

 

            Another characteristic of a leader is to lead from the front (unlike a recent cowardly leader of the United States whose self-pronounced policy it was to ‘lead from behind’).  A good leader will never ask his subordinates to do anything he would not do, or has done. He is willing to face the greater danger by leading to the front in the line of battle.

 

            The motto of the Infantry Center at Fort Benning, Georgia, is comprised of only two words: Follow me! The everlasting annals of the infantry are replete with heroic actions of the leader who advanced under withering fire at the head of his troops and was first to perish. There are unsung heroes of whose sacrifice we may never know whose lives were offered, unheralded, on some dismal battlefield, Some were young, some were older, and some were merely private soldiers whose honor and character shine brightly in the unwritten records of the Book of Life.    

 

            I know One such leader whose stainless character, dauntless courage, and abiding love for His followers is above reproach. We know Him as the Lord Jesus Christ. He asks that we follow Him – not because He needs our company, but because we need His. He has walked in all the rocky ruins and barren wilderness areas that His followers must walk. He has done more to provide for us than any other could do, or was even willing to do. Being innocent of any sin, He bore our own sins on His flesh-torn back on the cross at Calvary. He came into our camp while we were His depraved enemies. But He brought the greatest weapon in His arsenal to subdue our hatred and rebellion – the weapon of LOVE. 

 

            This Beloved Captain of our Souls also gave the simple command, Follow Me! He warned us of the severity of the battle, and the burden we must bear in our cross, but He is always with us to bear our heavy load and to urge us on to victory. He has faced all the humiliation, torture, and rejection that the enemy can mount against us. He even died in our place and defeated death and Hell. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. When we follow Him, we will be on the Beautiful Way where no danger can threaten. Though we may bear the wounds and depravations of a soldier of the battle, we are in constant awe of the sacrifice our Leader has made for us. There is not a single battle we have fought in which He was not right beside. His wounds have always been greater than ours, and His sacrifice of Himself on our behalf are battle streamers on His Ensign.        

 

            He is a gentle Captain who administers discipline in love.  2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:   (Heb 12:2-5)

 

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HE LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes (Deuteronomy 1:30)    

 

Soldiers of the cross, Fall in, and Follow Me!

Free Will – 27 May 2021, Anno Domini

 

Article X of the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of the Reformation Church of England:

 

Free Will

The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and good works, to faith, and calling upon God. Wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will.

 

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OR it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

 

            From the moment Adam sinned, the heart of man has been dead to righteousness. Adam died spiritually the moment he partook of the forbidden fruit, and so did all his progeny. We were all dead in trespasses and sin until the Holy Spirit moved in our hearts to call us by grace to life in Christ. 1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; . . . . 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;). . . . 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:1, 5, 8-9) The dead can do no works worthy of salvation – not even ONE. It is the grace of the Lord that beckons us to life by faith imbued by the Holy Spirit.

 

            This Article of Religion is difficult for many to accept. They believe that they one day made a righteous decision to follow God – that it was their own decision of which God had no part. But God is Sovereign and He calls whom He will. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5) The heart is the seat of the will, and it is desperately wicked. We all deserve the punishment of Hell, but God rules the matter.

 

            Martin Luther wrote a classic work concerning man’s falsely perceived free will – The Bondage of the Soul. The title is correct in all ways. The will of man is in bondage to sin until he is made alive in Christ. His will is not free – but in bondage. The soul that has taken upon itself the Mind (Will) that was in Christ is, indeed, free. It is the only ‘free will’ that man can profess to have. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36) All the works and will of the believer are wrought by Christ.  LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.  (Isaiah 26:12)

 

            Holiness is a characteristic of the believer, and we can only be Holy through the workings of Christ in our hearts and minds. As a great minister of the past has written:

 

As there is no strength in us, so there is no merit in us. As we cannot act without God's grace, so we cannot claim it, nor pretend to deserve it. God's good will to us is the cause of his good work in us; and he is under no engagements to his creatures, but those of his gracious promise.  Matthew Henry Commentary

 

It is God that makes us alive who were dead, and it is He who turns us to Himself:  . . . . turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.  (Jeremiah 31:18b)

 

Article Ten is included in the Thirty-Nine Articles to reject the Pelagian Heresy that the descendants of Adam were not tainted by original sin and, therefore, possessed free will to merit salvation. What do you think, friend?

 

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OR whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.   30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:29-30)

 

The Path of Restoration – 26 May 2021, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)

 

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ND the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. (Luke 22:31-34)

 

            Peter was a man of strong constitution – strong, courageous, and stubborn. But Peter thought he was more of a man than he really was. He was very much like us all in that respect. Jesus had said, “Without me, you can do nothing.” And once Peter was separated physically from Christ, his spirit fainted within him when danger arose. 

 

Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. 73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.  (Matthew 26:69-75)  This was the very lowest part of Peter’s life. He denied his Lord – not once, not twice, but three times. Moreover, on the third denial, the Lord looked Peter in the face: And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.  (Luke 22:60-61)

 

      This was a terrible tragedy for Peter. He wept for three days in shame and self-disappointment. At the open tomb on resurrection morning, the angels told the disciples: “… go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.” Did you notice the nuanced response of the angel in naming only Peter specifically. Why? Because the Lord knew of Peter’s grief. He knows our griefs and hurts as well and comforts us in a thousand ways.

 

Steps of Peter’s restoration (and ours): 

 

First

Peter remembered the words of the Lord as we all must when we are off the Narrow Way. When our navigation takes us off course, we must remember our former heading and ground track and return to it. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice (Luke 22:61)

 

Second

Peter wept bitterly. Repentance should precede restoration. (Luke 22:62)

 

Third

Peter ran to the open tomb at the glorious news of resurrection. (Luke 24:12) We should not delay our return to Christ.

 

Fourth

Peter wondered at the open tomb. (Luke 24:12) We, too, should be amazed at God’s forgiveness.

 

Fifth

The Lord’s interview of Peter. The old name Simon came up as well. When we fall back, we return to our old ways and manners.  (John 21:15-17)

 

Sixth

Peter commanded to follow Christ in obedience following restoration. (John 21:22)

 

Seventh

Peter was filled with the Spirit and was never ‘separated’ from his Lord again. This is the consummation of restoration. (Acts 1:2, 14-18)

 

We may all follow this same pattern of restoration when we find ourselves without water in a desert land and have need of the Lord to open our eyes to the Fountain of Living Waters.

 

Hymns of the Church – Jesus Shed His Blood for Me– 25 May 2021, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)

   

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OR the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.  (Leviticus 17:11)

 

            I could find little history of this hymn except in the tradition Korean Hymnal alone. (#144).  The Korean hymnal ascribes the hymn to Fanny Crosby, but I do not believe that to be the case. There is no record in any of her notes concerning this hymn. It is more likely a hymn by Missionary John Underwood originally written in Korean and translated by him, as well, into English. It is a favorite hymn of the Korean Church. The tune is the same as ‘Near the Cross’ by W.H. Doane (1868). Since Doane wrote the music for many of Crosby’s hymns, it may have led others to believe that Crosby wrote this hymn which I do not believe she did. Any enlightenment will be appreciated.

 

Jesus Shed His Blood for Me

 

Jesus shed his blood for me,

bore, for our salvation

on his cross, the agony

of a lost creation.

Refrain:

Jesus, Lord, Jesus, Lord,

for my sins they slew thee.

Now by thy dear blood restored,

draw the sinner to thee.

 

For what crime should he be killed,

for his killers praying?

Mad, that mindless mob has willed

their Messiah's slaying.

 

None there lives who does not know

sin, bloodied as crimson;

but the cross makes white as snow

all in Christ's dominion.

 

Jesus, oh so fair art thou!

My good friend, my Savior,

thy grace, only, save me now,

and from hell forever.

 

Jesus shed his blood for me, bore, for our salvation on his cross, the agony of a lost creation. "The Life is in the blood" the Scriptures tell us. The life of every human being and every animal of flesh is in the blood. The Bible is the living Word of God, therefore the very blood of Christ is what animates that Word. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 This tells us the Word itself is ALIVE for ‘Quick’ means alive. There is only one organ of the body that is alive and not fixed in a stationery place – the Blood, and, yes, blood is considered an organ in the science of hemotology.

 

For what crime should he be killed, for his killers praying? Mad, that mindless mob has willed their Messiah's slaying. There is something about this stanza that is absent some of the whole story of redemption. Yes, Christ prayed that His murderers be forgiven by the Father, but the will of the mob did not prevail. They desired to destroy the Messiah, but their actions only led to His resurrection victory, and ours as well.

 

None there lives who does not know sin, bloodied as crimson; but the cross makes white as snow all in Christ's dominion. Jesus had not a drop of Adam’s blood in His veins. He had our flesh but His blood was sinless. This is pointed out in a book entitled Chemistry of the Blood by MR DeHaan, MD We all have the tainted blood of Adam coursing through our veins – and it is tainted with the sin disease. Just the very presence of our blood condemns us as sinners, but there is a Balm in Gilead. The blood of Christ washes our sins away so that we may appear white as snow.

 

Jesus, oh so fair art thou! My good friend, my Savior, thy grace, only, save me now, and from hell forever. Yes, our Lord Jesus Christ is fairer by far than ten thousand. His blood was freely given for the work of grace in salvation. There is no other means of salvation except by grace alone – never is salvation based on good works for even the plowing of the wicked is sin. (Proverbs 21:4) If you did not know, all are wicked and fall short of the glory of God – there is none righteous, no, not one! Yes, Jesus is our Friend, but far more than that: He is our Savior/Redeemer and such a Friend as sticketh closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)

 

Jesus, Lord, Jesus, Lord, for my sins they slew thee. Now by thy dear blood restored, draw the sinner to thee. Do you remember the one whose place Jesus immediately took on the cross? It was the hardened criminal, Barabbas. Barabbas, like us, was under the sentence of death. Like us, he was a captive of his sins. And like us, Jesus took his place on the cross. I hope that Barabbas later came to know Jesus as His Savior in a greater sense than that of the physical death Barabbas would have suffered. Like many of us, Barabbas had no understanding of what Jesus did for him unless his eyes were opened after the event.

 

The sinner does not draw near to Christ – He is, as the hymn suggests – drawn to Christ by the working of the Holy Ghost. That Spirit works as a magnet to draw the soul whose properties are such as are drawn by the Magnet. Those souls which bear no image or resemblance of their Maker are like lead – they are not attracted by the Great Magnet.

 

 

Let your Lights be Burning – 25 May 2021, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)

 

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HY word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.   (Psalm 119:105)

 

 

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ET your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;  (Luke 12:35) 

 

            The road of life is dark and foreboding to those who have no light by which to travel it. But to those who know the Father of Lights, and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the darkness is merely a shadow of no substance. In fact, in His Presence, there is no darkness for darkness cannot abide the Light of the World. In Him is no darkness. I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.(John 8:12) Our Lord is our great Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2) – our Day Star from on high. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the DAY STAR arise in your hearts: (2 Peter 1:19)

 

            How is our Lord the SUN of Righteousness? Because He is the Word Incarnate whose Truth is the Light of Glory. In His Word is both Justice and Mercy mingled together. His Light is self-generating in the same sense of that of the Sun of this Universe. His Light reveals truths to us unknown to the carnal-minded of the world. It serves as a two-edged sword to reveal both truth and error at the same time. Not only is the Straight and Narrow Way of our Lord clearly revealed in that Light, but also the rocks and crevices of error made certain to our eyes. The rising of the Sun represents a new day, and so does the rising of Christ in our souls represent a new and eternal day that will know no sunset.

 

            I have written before of two seemingly contrasting verses – that of John 8:12, and that of Matthew 5:14 – Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. I recently had a heated discussion with a minister who believed these two verses stood in opposition and revealed an error in Scripture. To begin with, how can any minister believe the Bible contains error? Nonetheless, his perception was conceived in ignorance and perhaps a lack of certainty that God is Sovereign and never misspeaks. So how can our Lord AND the believer BOTH be the Light of the World? The Light of the believer is not His own – it is Christ that is the Light of the believer. We are the reflected Light of the Sun of Righteousness in the same way that the moon has only the reflected light of the sun. If any material or worldly thing comes between the moon and its light source, it becomes dark and eclipsed. The same is true of the believer who may allow some earthly desire to block the Light of Christ from his view. He grows cold and dark until, like the Prodigal Son, he regains his right mind and realizes his lapse of faith. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. (Luke 15:17-19)

 

            The Lord Jesus Christ is likewise our DAYSTAR – He is not to be found in darkness because He is that self-generating Light in which no darkness can dwell. As the Incarnate Son of God, our Lord was not of any special physical appeal. For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:2-5) The Sun is not the largest star by far in our Universe, so what makes it so very bright? It is because it is the NEAREST star in our Universe. Christ is both the most massive and brightest Star in our Heaven – in fact, the ONLY Star. Because of His nearness to us, His rays bathe us in the warmth of His love continually. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:4-5)

 

Do you have that Light that shineth in darkness?