God wasn’t a day early. Nor was He a day late. He was RIGHT ON TIME. Jesus came to the land God chose, the land where His people lived, at just the right time. Disease was rampant, darkness filled every crevice, faulty teaching surrounded daily life, and people were feeling hopeless. It was a time of political unrest, religious leaders abusing their power, and a long time, 400 years to be exact, since the people had heard from God. Had God forsaken them? Had He turned His back on them? Why hadn’t He shown up to deliver them from the clutches of Rome?
But in that darkness, one day, a light went on. We read in Matthew 4:16: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where darkness casts its shadow, a light has shined.” This light brought the people back from the brink of death, gave people hope again, and exposed the wacked out teaching they were living under. No, God had not forgotten them. God did care. In fact, God loved them so much that He came to them and a light flooded the mountains, the hills, the places of worship, and the hearts of His people.
God had done what He had said He would do. He didn’t come to rescue them from Rome (like they thought), but He came to rescue them from their sins and the condemnation of death. A much greater rescue, don’t you agree? The people came out in droves to the Jordan River and walked down into the water to be baptized by John the Baptizer. When they came up out of the water, their hearts were awakened, their eyes opened, and their lives changed. What a great moment that was.
You know… God did the same for you and me. He took us from darkness into His marvelous light. He filled our bodies with His love, grace, and hope. He transformed us, created a new spirit in us, and offered us eternal life. But here’s the thing… we mustn’t forget. Psalm 78 is a sad Psalm because the psalmist reminds the people what God did for them in the wilderness… how He provided for them, showed them amazing miracles, and protected them. Yet, “They forgot what he had done – the great wonders he had shown them” (Psalm 78:11). Despite God’s mercy, they kept sinning, rebelling, and forgetting.
When I was sixteen, a light awakened my slumbering spirit. God got my attention and that night I remembered everything I had been taught in Sunday School. That night, God switched on a light and I must have told Him a hundred times how much I loved Him. That light has guided me now for fifty-six years. There have been periods of darkness, but the light eventually breaks through. How thankful I am.
You may remember the moment God shone His light into your heart as well. The day everything changed for you. So, we mustn’t forget. We must keep walking with Him, loving Him and His people, worshiping Him, and obeying His mandates. We must live in thankful mode not gripe mode… I mean we really do have everything to be thankful for, right? We must acknowledge Him every day by talking to Him and letting Him talk to us. And we must keep our eyes fixed on the cross and how it was there that our chains were broken. And… we must fix our attention on His promises… the promises of protection, security, freedom, guidance, love, and His return. Let me encourage you to reminisce with God today and write down how His light has changed everything for you. And then worship Him.