December 20: A New Day Has Dawned

December 20:

Isaiah 9:2-7  “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.  You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.  For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.  Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”

As you awaken, you sense a patch of heat on your cheek. It is a pleasant warmth, and you instinctively open your eyes to investigate.

You are astonished, and a sigh of joy escapes. You can’t help yourself.  It has been so very long since you last saw the sun. It illuminates every corner of the room, bringing not only light but warmth and hope with it.

As you rise, your body protests. The aches and pains are ubiquitous, but they are satisfactory aches – like the remnants of hard, but productive, day’s work.

The gashes on your arms, legs, face, and neck vary in severity.  With proper care, the majority will fade; however, the depth and width of some suggest a permanent scar.  No matter, you smile to yourself. They are the physical reminders of the victory. While these scars will provide the fodder for many stories in the future, the pile of bloodied clothing and supplies in the corner must be destroyed.  If the story is to be told, it must be told carefully, by those who were there and not by artifacts. They will explain exactly how the Mighty Warrior freed the people and saved them from destruction.

In today’s passage, Isaiah prophesies of a coming Savior.  From what I have read, Judah wasn’t behaving very well, and Isaiah was literally delivering a “come-to-Jesus” about the situation.  In this passage, which is often quoted during the Christmas season, Isaiah lists the attributes of the One who will come to Earth to save us from our sins.

This passage, however, is more than a traditional punctuation point in the lighting of an Advent candle.  In my opinion, it is an apt description of what happens when one makes the decision to follow Christ.  In following the analogy above, once someone chooses Christ, a new day is dawning.  Where there was darkness and confusion, there is now the light of hope and salvation.  With Christ, a believer now has a light to guide his/her path/decisions.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Because of this, the remains of one’s old life must be destroyed. We cannot cling to that which was, but must start anew.  Even though Christ heals all our wounds , there inevitably will be scars.  However, those scars are a testament to the healing power of the Mighty Warrior – our Savior.  Rather than regard them as tangible reminders of our humiliation and shame, those scars become our greatest testimony, so we can help others to Christ. Besides, if we are as excited as we should be about how the Mighty Warrior has saved us, there won’t be a cork big enough to stop our mouths from running.  We will (should) be excited to share what He has done and who He is.

Who is this Warrior?  He is. . .

Wonderful Counselor – We are filled with wonder and awe because this Warrior knows exactly what we need at the moment we need it.  He is ever-attentive and knows each of us intimately; His counsel is perfectly tailored and delivered in a way that fits and makes sense to each of us specifically. 

Romans 8: 38-9 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Mighty God – There is nothing and no one who is greater, stronger, or wiser than He.  At His command, the world began, and He will return to finish up business on His terms.  He is everywhere, all-knowing, and all-powerful.

Colossians 1: 16-17 16 “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Everlasting Father – Even though He is indisputably authoritative, He is also our “Daddy.” He guides and disciplines us as our Father, demanding obedience and respect.  Even so, He cares for us as our Father. He even went so far as to sacrifice Himself for us, His children – to show us just how much we matter and to model for us His expectations as to how to live.  He listens carefully to the concerns of our hearts, empathizing with us and wanting to give us the desires of our hearts.  We are never alone or abandoned, and we are always, always loved and cherished.

1 John 3:1 ”See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”

Prince of Peace – Above all, God is love. It is through His love that we find peace.  He has shown and given us multiple ways and examples of how to do that.  During His time on Earth, He modeled, to the finest detail, how He expected us to live our lives.  The parables He told and miracles He performed were all mini-lessons on how to live.  The Bible is the ultimate textbook.  And of course, most importantly, His sacrifice of dying on the cross for our sins illustrates the very definition of love.  If we takes these lessons to heart (literally) and give Him first place in all we are and all we do, we will experience ultimate peace amid the chaos of this world.

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The fighting is done; the war is won. As you stand before the window, considering this Mighty Warrior, let the light wash over you completely.  There is a new Kingdom – one of justice and righteousness.

“Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this”(Isaiah 9:7).  

Yes, a new day has dawned. Darkness, loneliness and destruction have been defeated; let love, peace, and joy reign supreme.

Hosea 12:6 “But you must return to God; maintain love and justice, and wait for God always.”

Psalm 136:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”

Challenge: Bring your co-workers a special treat. Small surprises and tokens of your appreciation spread throughout the year help the people in your workplace feel valued. Surprise your coworkers with donuts, cookies or a homemade treat.