In my opinion. we who live in the Mat-Su Valley are
privileged to reside in one of the most beautiful places on God’s earth. But. . . the last week or so perhaps you have
experienced the sloppy conditions of an Alaskan fall along with me. You know that after some beautiful snow on
Thursday evening, October 28, we have for the last 5 days experienced clouds
and winds, and often rain. The
temperatures have not been cold enough for snow, nor warm enough for outdoor
enjoyment. Actually, while “sloppy”
might be one description of our recent weather, “gloomy” is perhaps a better
description of our late fall conditions this past week.
When the weather is “gloomy,” does it affect your
spirits? I confess that after a week or
so of gloomy, cloudy, rainy weather, I can tell a difference. I continue doing the tasks I have before
me. But, it is amazing how one day of
clear skies, shining with the light of the sun, can lift my spirits. In fact, on Tuesday, November 2, as I was
walking out of the Palmer Post Office, I looked to the northeast, up the
Matanuska River valley. Way at the end
of what I could see, up toward the Matanuska Glacier, a patch of blue sky shone
through the clouds above me. Just that
little bit of clear sky made a difference.
And then, on Wednesday morning
the clouds were breaking. The white snow
on the Talkeetna Mountains behind my house was shining brightly in the morning
sun. My spirits were lifted! God is good!
On November 2, as I was reading through my devotions, one
of the Bible readings was from Matthew 11 where Jesus teaches, “Come to me, all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 11:28) The devotional
writing following this Gospel lesson was from George McDonald (1824-1905),
whose writings inspired C.S. Lewis in what he wrote. McDonald wrote of a Christian leader who
faced some gloomy times. “He fell into a mournful mood over the
troubles of his race. . . But now that
he had begun to hope, he saw a glimmer of light somewhere at the end of the
dark cave in which he had all at once discovered that he was buried alive.” (A Curate’s Awakening, For All the Saints,
Volume II, page 1063). The glimmer of
light experienced by this Christian leader came from the love and the light of
Jesus.
We live in a world of trouble, of tribulation, of sin,
and suffering. We should not be
surprised that the trials of life at times invade the peace and the hope a
Christian has in Jesus. But, Jesus has
overcome the darkness of this world. Listen
to what the apostle John writes about Jesus in the first chapter of his
gospel. “4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light
shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:4-5)
Jesus is God’s light for a world of darkness. Unfortunately, people often miss this
light. And, after an encounter with the
legalism of the Jewish religious leaders in John 8:1-11, Jesus Himself
describes this truth for us, “When Jesus
spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever
follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of
life.’" (John 8:12)
In a world of disarray and confusion, because those
created by God do not want to follow Him, Jesus gives clear direction in His
Word, in His law, in His wisdom and teaching.
In a world of personal failure, of selfishness, of evil, and of party
spirit, Jesus offers forgiveness for the sin of the world through His dying on
the cross. Jesus offers this forgiveness
and this light to all who believe in Him.
In a world where people are full of gloom and doom, not only because of
the troubles in our midst, but also because we can wonder in life’s trials if
anyone even cares, we have Jesus who loves us and promises, “Come to me, all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give you rest.”
In a world of despair, and death, Jesus offers eternal life because He
not only died for the sins of the world, but He rose defeating Satan, and defeating
sin, and defeating death. Jesus is more
powerful than our failures. His love
overcomes our sins. He offers eternal life
to us, and to those whom we love.
We Alaskans are incredibly blessed by the beauty of God’s
world around us. We should always have
hearts full of thanks. However, even we
can face the gloom of darkness and sloppy weather, and of the trials and
tribulations in our world. I thank God
for what our Lord Jesus promises, “I am
the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but
will have the light of life."
Can you remember when the light of Jesus’ love brought
you out of a time of gloom?
A Child of God,
Thankful that Jesus is God’s LIGHT, in a Dark World of Gloom!
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. I did not do any fishing this past week, but
I did look at pictures from past trips and consider future opportunities. Also, here is some more beautiful Fall
scenery, including the light on the mountains on Wednesday morning, November 3. https://photos.app.goo.gl/6TEkYQtZ8LV9negn8
*****
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at
the end of August 2019 from serving as senior pastor of St. John Lutheran
Church in Palmer, AK. I was writing a weekly devotion previously
entitled, "Thoughts from the Pastor." When I retired
many asked me to continue writing these devotions. So I have continued
writing. However, with life's changes I now call this weekly devotion "Journeys
Through Life as a Child of God." Since I am no longer senior
pastor at St. John, I felt it right to only send this message to those who
asked to receive it. (Though I am now serving again part-time at St. John
as assistant to the pastor.)
So, if you stopped receiving these devotions and wondered why, now you
understand. And, if you are now receiving these devotions and do not wish
to receive them, please let me know, and I’ll gladly remove your name from my
distribution list. My e-mail address is jonrock53@mtaonline.net.
My prayer is that these devotions help each of you in your daily walk with our
Lord, Jesus.
*******
Jonathan Rockey
Child of God
Husband, Father,
Son, Grandfather
Pastor Emeritus,
St. John Lutheran Church
E-Mail: jonrock53@mtaonline.net
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