"WHERE IS THE LIGHT?"

April 25   “Where is the Light?”       Isaiah 9:2

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina…“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.”  (Isaiah 9:2)

When I was growing up, in rural Eastern Wayne County, when night time came, it was dark.  No area lights; no dawn to dusk automatic lighting, so when it got dark, it was dark.  Well, it happened that my Daddy, my Uncle and I were sitting on the back porch as it got darker and darker.  Uncle Marvin was a “jokester” and he was always coming up with a prank or some creative way to aggravate me and tonight would be no different.  He looked at me and asked this question, “Are you scared of the dark?”  Being nine years old and “full of myself,” I responded, “NO!”  “Ok then, so prove it!”  What was he conjuring up in his mind now?  “Here’s the deal, if you walk down the path and through the woods and come along the creek and back to right here, without a flashlight, I will give you $20.00.”  You need to understand the circumstances; the moonlight was barely visible and it was pitch black and you could hardly see your hand in front of your face, however, my mouth and my pride had placed me in a terrible place.  I was “concerned” about the darkness, even though I had walked this path hundreds of times, yet it was always during the daylight.  Mustering up as much “arrogance” and courage as I could, I shouted, “I’LL DO IT!”  Every journey begins with that first step, so, off I went.  The first part of the journey wasn’t so bad; then I had to enter the woods and walk along the path that we had raked out so that we could ride our bikes through there.  In the darkness, feeling my way along, I had an eerie feeling that I wasn’t alone.  Was someone there or was it my imagination?  It didn’t matter; I was half way to $20.00 and the pleasure of saying, “Ha-Ha-Ha,” to Uncle Marvin.  Then it hit me, I am actually lost.  How could this be?  I have plundered through these woods for years.  All of a sudden, I saw a light.  Where is it coming from?  There isn’t anything close, except my house.  So, I started moving towards the light.  Now, I was unaware that Mama had heard our conversation, so she estimated the time that it would take for me to get deep into the woods and then, she turned on the back porch light.  Mama provided a guiding light, so that I could come home.  I did come home, I did collect $20.00 and I did shut down Uncle Marvin, at least, for a while.  As I reflect on this experience, I understand that we need to be a “Light” to others who are journeying through the darkness of this world.  I challenge you today, to be a Bright “Light” in the darkness, like Mama was for me!  Stay Strong, Stay Focused…Remember, THE BEST IS YET TO BE! (Reprint)