Joy to the WorldPrøve

Rejected Light In the early hours of December 21, 2010, I witnessed an event that last occurred in 1638—a total lunar eclipse on the winter solstice. Slowly the shadow of the earth slipped across the bright full moon and made it appear a dark red. It was a remarkable and beautiful event. Yet it reminded me that while physical darkness is part of God’s created design, spiritual darkness is not. Scottish pastor Alexander MacLaren said: “Rejected light is the parent of the densest darkness, and the man who, having the light, does not trust it, piles around himself thick clouds of obscurity and gloom.” Jesus described this self-imposed spiritual eclipse of heart and mind when He said, “If the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!” (MATTHEW 6:23). The great invitation of Christmas is to open our hearts to the Savior who came to end our darkness. Jesus said, “Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light. . . . I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark” (JOHN 12:36, 46). The way out of our spiritual night is to walk in the light with Him. DAVID MCCASLAND When we walk in the Light, we won't stumble in the darkness.