Lights out! No water! No heat! Trees dying! Ice everywhere! No doubt this ice storm which we’ve endured (and continue to endure … ) will be talked about for some time to come. Being so used to flipping, pushing, and pulling switches without a second thought as to the result, it’s not always easy to sit in the dark and stay thankful. However, after about four days of sump pump checking, ice melting, candle lighting and freezer emptying it occurred to me that there was an absolutely wonderful parallel to this whole affair in the Word of God.
The Word of God declares that there is a day coming when the Lord Jesus Christ will return to gather the Church. It declares that on that day the dead in Christ shall rise first and then those that are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So what does this have to do with the power outage?
Well, during the days of darkness at our house, it occurred to me that we were waiting for the power to come back and yet we did not know when it actually would. We certainly did not have any doubt as to the fact that it would indeed come back. It could happen at any time and we knew that when it would, it would be wonderful. Hot shower here I come.
The hope of the return of our Lord and Savior is exactly like that (albeit on a much grander scale, mind you). It Is Written in the scriptures that no man knows the hour of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ (though there are some that think they do) . It declares that the day will come like a thief in the night (no one expects a thief). It declares that it will all happen in the twinkling of an eye.
Now we may not know when Jesus Christ will return but there is no doubt that he will indeed return. The surety of the scriptures is a far greater guarantee than any earthly utility can provide. And yet, we give so much credence to the promises and plans of men.
The return of the power was indeed a welcome occurrence at our house – much to be celebrated. Just how much greater will be the day when the Lord Jesus Christ returns? A day that will lead to a world of no more tears, pain, sorrow or death. A hot shower doesn’t even hold a candle (bad pun) to that. Clouds here I come!
So, as hard as it may seem to believe, the devastation of the ice storm will eventually pass. However, a far greater darkness exists that no amount of electricity can ever dissipate. That is the state of those who are not looking for the blessed hope of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The lights might be on but a life without a hope that is anchored in the God who created the heavens and the earth is a life in the dark.