Bright Beginnings!

New beginnings generally come with a sense of excitement encouraged by a RAY OF HOPE for a glorious future. My attention has always been drawn to the RAYS of sunshine breaking through an opening in the clouds. When it comes to the events of life are we constantly mindful of the RAYS OF HOPE that pierce the darkness to encourage us on?

When God began bringing life into existence, we read…
“(1) In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (2) The earth was without form and void, and DARKNESS WAS OVER THE FACE OF THE DEEP. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (3) And God said, ‘LET THERE BE LIGHT,’ and THERE WAS LIGHT. (4) And God saw that THE LIGHT WAS GOOD. And God separated the light from the darkness.” ( Genesis 1:1-4 ESV)

As God began His wondrous work of creation He started with light and that light was good! This was the beginning of new things. It was the starting of new life. What a marvelous world God created in which to place mankind. It was a bright beginning in the history of humanity with a marvelous HOPE of an abiding relationship with the Creator.

As we read the history of mankind unfolding through the Scriptures, it doesn’t take long to begin seeing the struggles in maintaining a proper focus for the life God was set on providing. However, even in the midst of sin and rebellion against God and His Will, there were RAYS OF HOPE heralded by His prophets. And just as “in the beginning” God brought forth light to dispel the darkness, there was another era (dispensation) to come that would also begin with radiant light.

In Isaiah we read…
“(1) Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. (2) For behold, DARKNESS SHALL COVER THE EARTH, and thick darkness the peoples; BUT THE LORD WILL ARISE UPON YOU, AND HIS GLORY WILL BE SEEN UPON YOU. (3) And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” ( Isaiah 60:1-3 ESV) [For verse 3 note also the reference in Revelation 21:22-26)

This was a reference to the future glory of Israel. Just as “in the beginning” there was physical light to dispel the physical darkness, God would provide spiritual light that would dispel spiritual darkness. When Jesus, the Messiah and “TRUE LIGHT, which enlightens everyone” ( John 1:9) came onto life’s scene, He was the bright RAY OF HOPE to break through the darkness of error, sin, and unrighteousness.

To be “separated from Christ” is to remain in darkness and to be without hope. ( Ephesians 2:12-13) However, just as in the beginning “God separated the light from the darkness” ( Genesis 1:4), so in Christ we can be separated from the darkness as we live in His light. Regardless of how dark things may seem to be in this world, He is still the RAY OF HOPE to help us see our way and encourage us on. Our new beginning in Christ at baptism was “to be born again to a LIVING HOPE” ( 1 Peter 1:3 ESV) and an eternal inheritance that awaits us in heaven. ( 1 Peter 1:4) May the RAYS OF HOPE in Him continue to draw our attention upward.

Have a great day ENCOURAGED BY THE BRIGHT FUTURE THAT’S OURS IN CHRIST!
Carl

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